Just had to upgrade my cellphone due to the old one failing in several areas (iPhone 6S Plus, used when I bought it), and ended up with a 12S. Part of the setup includes “Apple Pay”, but I cannot help but wonder about security these days!

Anyone with an iPhone who regularly uses Apple Pay, please respond with your personal experience using it. Thanks!

I’m not sure there are any cons with the actual payment process — it’s excellent.

The retailers / vendors that accept Apple Pay is vast and continues to grow — but perhaps one con would be that not everyone accepts it yet.

Regarding security, it’s safer than using a physical debit / credit card. This is because the card number (or even any portion of the card number) is never transmitted. So if you feel safe using a debit / credit card then you can be comforted knowing you’re even better off when using Apple Pay.

I have no security concerns using Apple Pay. It’s fantastic to pull out your phone and pay with a few button clicks.

Applepay uses your existing credit card so it’s covered the same as your physical credit card.

The only real security concerns are your Apple ID password and your phones pin or Face ID.

 
When using Apple Pay with your phone and biometric authentication (Touch ID or Face ID), it is probably the most secure form of in person payment. Apple Pay generates a one time credit card number for the transaction, that is not your actual number. The point of sale terminal never sees anything that can be stolen and used.

Like PayPal, you’re not allowed to use ApplePay to buy guns or ammo. That’s about the only con I can think of.

Why would a person want to insert Apple into their transactions? I understand why Apple wants to be in the middle of all the transactions: making money and gathering information on its users, but what do the users of Apple Pay gain?

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Why would a person want to insert Apple into their transactions? I understand why Apple wants to be in the middle of all the transactions: making money and gathering information on its users, but what do the users of Apple Pay gain?

As others said above, vastly improved security for their credit cards.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
Like PayPal, you’re not allowed to use ApplePay to buy guns or ammo. That’s about the only con I can think of.

You can’t use Apple Pay on a website, but it will work inside a store.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
 
When using Apple Pay with your phone and biometric authentication (Touch ID or Face ID), it is probably the most secure form of in person payment. Apple Pay generates a one time credit card number for the transaction, that is not your actual number. The point of sale terminal never sees anything that can be stolen and used.

Also if you use it with the Apple credit card you can have the security code renewed periodically and, if you think the card number was compromised, you can request a new number from the Apple wallet app.

Even though we don’t keep a balance on our cards, the APR on the Apple Card is much lower than other cards. Just in case.

Apple Pay is secure, widely accepted, and foolproof. It works with Apple Watch also. If you wanted to be doubly sure, open a new credit card account (such as the Apple Card) and link only that account to the Apple Pay system.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
Like PayPal, you’re not allowed to use ApplePay to buy guns or ammo. That’s about the only con I can think of.

You can’t use Apple Pay on a website, but it will work inside a store.[/QUOTE]

That I didn’t know. I thought they were as backward and draconian as PayPal.

Yeah, I don't understand the difference, but somebody thought it was a good idea.

https://www.guntab.com/payment...20and%20munitions%22

Actually, the gun range / store I frequent accepts Apple Pay.

Back to the original question, I have used Apple Pay for about 2 1/2 years now, and I think it's great. When I go internet shopping, I actively look for vendors that accept Apple Pay. If I go into a store that doesn't accept it, I always make it a point to ask them when they will get it. I like it that my actual card number isn't in someones data base ready to be hacked.

Any place that has a credit card terminal that accepts NFC (tap the card to the terminal instead of inserting or swiping) accepts Apple Pay.

Another pro of using Apple Pay is that you get a phone notification every time any of the linked cards in the wallet is used, so if it’s something that you didn’t charge, you’ll know almost immediately.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:

You can’t use Apple Pay on a website, but it will work inside a store.

That depends on the website. Some sites do let you select Apple Pay, the same way you can select PayPal as an alternate form of payment.

I find it handy to use it from my Apple Watch too. Helps lessen the chance something will fall out of my wallet if I never take the wallet out of my pocket.

And for whatever reason there is a substantial discount on items purchased from the vending machines at my workplace if you use Apple Pay or Google Pay. Over 50% on some items.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
Like PayPal, you’re not allowed to use ApplePay to buy guns or ammo. That’s about the only con I can think of.

I've purchased both guns and ammo with Apple Pay.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Why would a person want to insert Apple into their transactions? ... what do the users of Apple Pay gain?

Security.

When you use Apple Pay at a PoS (Point of Sale) terminal, the terminal gets a one-shot, virtual, credit card number, not your real CC number. It's good for only that one transaction and for the amount of the transaction. So CC number theft is rendered literally impossible.

Another security feature, with some cards, is instant notification of when and where a card linked to Apple Pay is used.

Secondary to security, in my opinion, is convenience. I don't need to haul my wallet out, haul a card out of my wallet, plug it into a chip reader (or hand it to somebody else), then put it all back. I simply double-tap a button on my Apple Watch, hold it up to the PoS terminal, wait for the beep/buzz, done.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
I understand why Apple wants to be in the middle of all the transactions: making money and gathering information on its users...

Apple does collect a small fee from card issuer banks. Apple's personal data policies are clear and unambiguous: "Apple does not share personal data with third parties for their own marketing purposes." That is verbatim, from their site.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
Any place that has a credit card terminal that accepts NFC (tap the card to the terminal instead of inserting or swiping) accepts Apple Pay.

Another pro of using Apple Pay is that you get a phone notification every time any of the linked cards in the wallet is used, so if it’s something that you didn’t charge, you’ll know almost immediately.

My credit card does the instant notification as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:

You can’t use Apple Pay on a website, but it will work inside a store.

That depends on the website. Some sites do let you select Apple Pay, the same way you can select PayPal as an alternate form of payment.

Yes I use it on websites that allow it. When you process the transaction it sends an alert to your phone to verify with a fingerprint or Face ID.

Really, the major credit cards have absolutely terrible security. A merchant account only needs the cc number for Visa/Mastercard to accept the charge. All the security you see is between you and the merchant to protect the merchant from fraud. Amex requires more verification from the merchant and has lower incidence of fraudulent charges.

The chipped cards are a little better but they don't require a PIN code like in other countries. That would help a lot with security. I've had 3 chipped cards compromised in the last year, so clearly it's not that helpful here.

I know there a lot Apple detractors, but if there's one company that takes security seriously, it's Apple. Not perfect, but always in the forefront of their development. Currently, Apple Pay is as good as it gets in the "keep my credit card safe" arena. I use mine for everything, and if you have and Apple credit card, and use Apple Pay at a store terminal you get double the rebate cash.

Cons - it appears that you have to carry your phone around all the time to use it. I know most people always have their phone on them, but I am the rare case that hates to carry mine. In fact, I really don't know why I have one, I hate to talk on the phone, and the small screen (iPhone 10X) is also a PITA.

Unfortunately, most banks and other businesses with an online presence seem to have abandoned development on their websites in favor of their individual "apps." There are just some things you can't do on the website that are enabled in the app, and the signon/verification process is much more cumbersome.