Chip and fingerprint
Following in the footsteps of mobile phone manufacturers, Mastercard has created a credit card that uses fingerprint sensor technology to add an additional layer of security to making in-store purchases.
Rather than requiring that you enter your PIN number to make a payment, these cards are fitted with small finger-sized sensor that you simply place your fingerprint on once you’ve put the card into a standard chip and PIN machine.
The payment process doesn’t appear to change in any way other than that instead of entering a PIN you simply press your finger to the card. We can’t help but wonder how long it’ll take for us all to forget our PIN numbers once these roll out.
The new cards are currently being tested in South Africa where two successful trials have already taken place.
Mastercard has said that it hopes to roll the technology out to the rest of the world by the end of 2017, though even when it does we’ll have to wait for our respective banks to get on board and adopt the technology before we’ll get to use it.
Once the cards are rolled out and your bank is on board, you’ll have to go to a branch and get your fingerprints scanned.
