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Thread ID: 124159 2012-04-10 07:52:00 Security Code on Credit Cards. mzee (3324) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1269149 2012-04-10 07:52:00 Can anyone tell me why the Security code is kept on the back of a credit card? It seems to me that the code should be in a safe place. Its rather like parking your car with the keys in it. Would the performance of the card be effected if the code was removed? mzee (3324)
1269150 2012-04-10 08:06:00 The security code is so that you can prove that you actually have the physical card. So if somebody skimmed your cc details, they wouldn't be able to make a purchase where the code is required. pine-o-cleen (2955)
1269151 2012-04-10 08:38:00 The code is not in the magnetic stripe (so can't be skimmed) so only the person who physically has the card, has the code.

(at least that's the theory)
decibel (11645)
1269152 2012-04-10 09:54:00 Isn't that what I said? pine-o-cleen (2955)
1269153 2012-04-10 11:15:00 Reason: as above,

Real word scenario: You are shopping at a dairy, the seedy bugger inside secretly skims your mag strip (the brown/black bit down the side) thus stealing all the information. He can then make a clone card or on sell the information but the info is useless unless he actually sees the card and gets the security number the card cannot be used. Only the person with the card has an opportunity to use it.

The problem is, that the CV can be stolen sometimes.

These days the chip & pin system makes it harder to steal card info (it's still possible though but VERY difficult to pull off in the real world). Another subtle security feature is that C&P systems usually have the card holder insert the card, no ineraction with a 3rd party is made so the CV number cannot be "stolen". You may notice in instances where the card is used by a 3rd party it is used face down so no opportunity is giving for reading the CV. Part of the auth system required the card to be removed to complete the transaction. This also reduces the risk of the customer "forgetting" their card or having it stolen by the checkout operator.
The Error Guy (14052)
1269154 2012-04-10 14:55:00 On the subject of card skimming, recently on the news there has been a lot of people got their card skimmed at the ATM, despite warning from the Banks staff saying we should be more careful when entering our pin and what not. Why don't they actually show us the skimming device or hidden camera and what to look out for? SKT174 (1319)
1269155 2012-04-10 17:04:00 ^^^ Typically the slots that pull the card into the machine are the easiest to attach a skimmer to. Many are a facade that fits over the real slot too:::

www.warriorsfortruth.com

(Link for above::: boingboing.net )

cache.gawker.com

cache.gawker.com

As far as I know - a credit card in itself is not scannable by a passer-by with electronic gear. These types can only read the 'Quick-Pass' type fobs or cards, as they are a passive RFD device.
SurferJoe46 (51)
1269156 2012-04-10 21:51:00 I wonder why these bank haven't removed the mag stripe completely on ATM cards and used chipped cards only?? They surely must be harder to skim as they have to be push home to work unlike a mag stripe that is read as the card is put in.. paulw (1826)
1269157 2012-04-10 22:26:00 NO - the chipped cards are readable by a person just walking past you in a crowd with the correct RFD device. It's that bad!

We have the ARCO/AM-PM gas station and the Mobil 'Quik-Pay' system and they are being hacked constantly here.

Very dangerous and silently your account goes to zero because it's an open ended system.
SurferJoe46 (51)
1269158 2012-04-11 01:21:00 Isn't that what I said?
It was indeed - this is what happens to me when I open a whole bunch of threads in different tabs and by the time I get around to reading/replying, they are out-of-date.;)
decibel (11645)
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