Category: Mobile Security

Merchants are becoming more conscious of mobile payments security

| March 20, 2014

Security is attracting more attention from merchants engaging mobile consumers

Merchants are beginning to become more aware of the dangers that exist in the mobile and digital spaces, according to the results of the 2nd Annual Mobile Payments and Fraud Survey conducted by Kount, The Fraud Practice, and CardNotPresent.com. These dangers have existed for some time, but merchants have been blind to them as they rushed to enter into the mobile commerce space. While mobile commerce has become quite popular, it has also become quite a risky thing to participate in because of the lack of security that exists on many popular platforms.

Survey shows that many merchants are participating in mobile commerce, but few have adequate security in place

According to the survey, 66% of merchants around the world now support mobile commerce. Mobile commerce support among merchants is expected to rise by 30% annually over the next few years. Merchants are becoming more comfortable with the mobile space as they begin to expose themselves to consumers that primarily shop and purchase products from smartphones and tablets. These merchants are working to become more accommodating to these consumers in the hopes of remaining relevant with changing consumer behaviors.

Mobile commerce continues to be a risky field

Mobile Payments - Merchants concerned about mobile securityThe survey shows that nearly a third of merchants consider the mobile space to be more risky than e-commerce. Mobile commerce has become a popular target for hackers because of the trafficking of financial information. This information can be somewhat easily accessed by hackers because of the lackluster security that exists with most mobile commerce platforms. While this has become a major concern for merchants, it has also caused many consumers to avoid mobile shopping.

As security improves, consumers are likely to become more active in mobile commerce

As merchants become more conscious of the risks that exist in the mobile space, they are beginning to take security more seriously. This means introducing new features to popular mobile commerce platforms that merchants have designed themselves. More security is expected to increase consumer spending in the mobile field because they will feel more confident in the safety of their financial information.

Payments Council prepares to step into the mobile commerce arena

| March 13, 2014

Organization set to launch a new mobile service in the UK

The Payments Council, an organization comprised of financial institutions based in the United Kingdom, is set to launch a new mobile commerce service named Paym. The service is meant to provide consumers with a more secure way to make mobile payments. Security remains one of the most outstanding and problematic issues that faces the mobile space. Because mobile commerce has become so popular among consumers, it has also become a popular target for malicious groups that seek to exploit financial information.

Paym aims to make money transfers quick and easy

Paym has the backing of several prominent financial institutions due to their association with the Payments Council. The service is designed to allow consumers to send money directly to a bank account as quickly as other forms of money transfer would work. The Payment Council notes that the service is linked to an overarching initiative in the United Kingdom that involves associated all bank accounts with a mobile device. Money transfers through Paym can be done through the use of a mobile number.

Collaboration may help companies avoid unnecessary competition in the mobile space

UK Mobile Commerce - Mobile PaymentsCompetition in the mobile commerce sector is quite fierce, if somewhat in overabundance. Many startups are fighting one another to win the attention and support of consumers while large companies are doing the same. The Payments Council believes that collaboration in necessary in order for mobile payments to become mainstream. These collaborations could allow organizations to sidestep much of the competition that exists in the mobile space, but whether these collaborations can produce services that consumers are interested in has yet to be seen.

Paym may be able to lay some security concerns to rest

Paym is expected to be made available later this year. The service is currently undergoing a final stage of testing before it is officially released. Concerns regarding security remain high, however, but with the regulations that banks must adhere to, these concerns could be dispelled once the service is launched. Banks have long focused on financial security and are typically required to meet the security standards of whatever country they are operating in.