Hands On: SmartSwipe Credit Card reader |
If you’re paranoid about your credit card info while shopping online, (And who isn’t?) it just got a little safer thanks to the SmartSwipe credit card reader. You might think you’re safe online as long as that padlock icon is displayed in your browser. And you are pretty safe, but not completely, hackers can still access your personal information while it is being entered into your computer and while it is still in memory.
With this SmartSwipe card reader your info is safe becaue your card information is never stored on your computer. The device uses Dynamic SSL technology and the same level of encryption used in bank machines and ATMs.
Instead of typing in your card number on the checkout page, just swipe your card. It encrypts the info BEFORE it enters your computer. On the order page of whatever site you are buying from, you are blocked from typing the card number in. Instead just swipe the card and you are done. It couldn’t be easier.
The device is about the size of an egg, so it’s completely portable and great for those who travel. I tested it on a few shopping sites and the process is smooth and looks to be just as safe as the manufacturer claims. It’s a pretty useful little gadget and even if you think you are safe already, it should give you some peace of mind.
This device has been in the works for a few years, but just got limited release 3 months ago. They have plans to distribute it throughout Canada in the next few months too and throughout the US by fall. Anyone in North America can get it through the website right now for $99.95. If you do a ton of shopping, it also beats having to type in the number again and again.
It doesn’t seem to support Firefox, so I had to use it in Internet Explorer, but I assume they will work on that. We like it. It’s safe, simple and fast. They should work with laptop manufacturers to build this device directly onto your laptop.
|
 |  |  |  |
Very cool!
Seems like a great idea. But then in Canada they are also pushing the chip technology. A reader for those would be better still. Also which sites does this work at? How limited is it?
Kyle, they claim it works on almost all shopping sites.
This is Shane from the SmartSwipe team. Thanks Conner for writing such a great review for us!
Kyle, unfortunately chip technology is not accepted by enough websites just yet, but at some point I’m sure we’ll see a chip enabled SmartSwipe.
And, yes, we claim to work on almost all websites. We have found a secure way to transfer data that doesn’t require any changes on the sites’ side - they receive the information in the usual way. The security behind SmartSwipe (called Dynamic SSL) is compatible with current SSL. We have a whitepaper coming out soon that will explain this in much further detail.
So how many sites does SmartSwipe work at? Our success rate is over 98%. The sites it doesn’t work at are very oddly configured checkouts and Flash pages (though we are working on a way to get Flash working as well).
Thanks again Conner and Kyle!
I’m afraid this device spells the beginning of the end for consumer security agains credit card fraud.
The banks have been working tirelessly to get credit card holders to take all responsibility for the banks’ slack security (mailing PINs, cards, and personalized cheques together by ordinary lettermail, inadequate PIN protection at ATMs and checkout readers, deliberately weakened password security online, etc.).
The latest move is to force cardholders to abandon signed transaction receipts for PINs by issuing “smart” cards and canceling the older, swipe-strip, cards.
All they have to do now is find or develop a home reader to read their smart chips and make card holders use them for all remote orders. Then they can divest themselves of all responsibility for fraudulent transactions, and cardholders will be without any protection at all.
That’s actually what’s happening in Europe right now. They’re issuing Chip and Pin readers for online banking, and shifting the liability to the consumer if they lose their pin number. Consumer liability is inevitable, regardless of whether you use a device or not. Frankly, if we’re going to be liable anyways, I’m happy to have a device like this to reduce my risk.
Is this compatible with Ubuntu Operating System?