E-wallets and mobile payment services like Google Pay, also known as Google Wallet or GPay, have become a constant in modern life.
Honestly, and personally our Gamblorium team thinks that we will never be able to go back to the way it was, and why? It is a fast, easy, convenient and safer way to handle money as well as use as a payment option in a NZ online casino that supports Google Pay.
Safety and security is an obvious primary concern of any mindful Kiwi user.
How Does Google Pay Ensure Security?
Financial issues and money are the leading cause of anxiety and stress in adults, so it is only natural to want to make sure that you use the best tools, apps and solutions available. Let’s take a closer look at how Google Pay protects your personal financial information from scams, fraud and unauthorised access.
Data Encryption and Tokenization
While you see your sensitive credit or debit card info on Google Pay, it is not the case for the places where you pay. To protect users from getting their info stolen the app uses data encryption and tokenization. This means that Google Pay hides and transforms your data into a secure code. All your info becomes a unique token – one of a kind randomly generated sequence of numbers.
How Google Pay Implements Tokenization
There can be different types of tokenization, GPay uses HCE – Host Card Emulation model.
- Your payment methods (debit or credit card info) and activity are stored on the Google Account, under your personal virtual account number to which tokens will be linked. The actual info never leaves Google’s servers.
- Transaction. Google Pay makes a single-use token (DPAN), also known as a transaction token, to stand for your virtual account number. That disposable token is then sent by Google servers. Google acts as an intermediary during the transaction.
The whole process looks like this:
- Payment info > bank > transaction token > Google server > transaction token > your device > transaction token > payment recipient > transaction token > bank.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Nowadays, when our smartphones hold the most delicate personal info, layers of protection and back-up plans are vital.
Google offers such options:
- Cardholder Verification Method (CVM)
- PIN code, pattern, fingerprint or face ID. The transaction cannot be made if the device is locked. We recommend having a password (PIN or pattern) as well as a biometric option turned on.
- Lock your device option
- In an unfortunate case of your smartphone being lost or stolen, it is recommended to use Google Find My Device to lock it remotely and sign out of Google Account, or even erase your data. This will help safekeep your private and sensitive information.
- Android’s Play Integrity API
- You can use the Integrity API at times of doubt, on your app to confirm that all user actions and requests go from your unmodified app binary (installed by Google Play), and are running on a genuine Android device. With this, the app’s backend server can decide what steps to take next to prevent abuse, fraud, unauthorised access, and attacks.
- Google Account security means Google Pay
- You can add recovery info, have 2-Step Verification and manage your check your account security.
Is Google Pay Safe from Hackers?
Is Google Pay safe and secure? Simple answer is – Yes. Long answer, while Google is doing everything in its power to make it that way, nothing can have 100% guarantee. However, there are always many other payment options for Kiwi online casinos.
But don’t discard Google just yet, the tech giant is constantly adding to the already impressive multitude of security levels among which outstanding encryption technology such as HTTPS and Transport Layer Security.
How Google Pay Handles Fraud Detection
Google introduced fraud detection in 2022 deep learning to analyse transaction patterns with multi-layered alerts so the users can take action straight away. Now, Google still actively uses AI and fraud prevention technology to monitor and identify suspicious activity in real time. They claim that they also work with the rest of the industry on building safe technologies.
Another level of protection is provided by recent transaction history and summary, so any suspicious activity can be quickly identified. We recommend regularly checking this information.
Financial industry is heavily regulated, and Google Pay is not an exception. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is the one that monitors it. They require companies to maintain strict security standards for storing, processing, and transmitting cardholder data:
- AI and real time transaction tracking;
- Summary & transaction history;
- Industry regulations.
Security Updates and Protection from Vulnerabilities
No matter how cool it would be, AI cannot solve everything, that is why Google Pay employs top security experts to monitor app 24/7. The team is also responsible for developing new security protocols, features and updates to stay on top of the game. You see their work in regular app updates.
In addition, Google regularly provides its users with education on the safe conduct subject. Because being informed is the first step in protecting yourself.
All in all, we trust Google Pay security and believe that if you were asking – is Google Pay safe from hackers, we think it is a great payment option.
How Safe Is Google Pay for In-Store and Online Purchases in NZ?
Did you know that it is safer to pay with Google Wallet or Apple Pay rather than just directly with your card? Well, it is. As we mentioned before encryption and tokenization give you added layers of security in conjunction with password protection, biometrics and PIN.
In-Store Payments: Just Tap
You can use your phone or watch for contactless payments in stores. Nothing is easier, you only need to unlock your device and tap. But, even if it seems very simple, security protocols are there! And how safe is Google Pay? As we mentioned above Google Pay relies on (HCE) Host Card Emulation for NFC communication, encryption and single use tokens.
It Looks Like This:
When you unlock the screen and tap your device > during the transaction, the single-use token is sent to the payment terminal via NFC > the terminal sends the token to Google’s servers > Google servers send it to the payment network & your bank for approval > after approval is confirmed your transaction will be successful.
The downsize for some users might be such, since Google is involved in the transaction process, it has some level of insight into your purchases.But you can always manage privacy and personalisation of Google Pay.
Online Purchases
Security matters and plays a bigger role online where it can be much harder for Kiwis to evaluate the integrity or the website.
For example, entering your payment info on a suspicious website can directly lead to the fraud, while with Google Pay temporary token is only provided, and it cannot be used to obtain any of your real data.
You can check out our complete guide on Google Pay, for the setup details, or more in-depth info on this app.
What Should New Zealand Users Do to Keep Google Pay Safe?
After reading all this, you may still question is there anything else? Any more security tips for users to keep their Google Pay safe? Besides not sharing your information and using Google Pay safe and only official sources.
Using Strong Passwords and PINs
We all understand the importance of strong passwords, and we all have heard that it should be long using numbers as well as a mix of characters, upper- and lower-case letters, it is better not to neglect these instructions.
We offer a few more life-hacks for creating a strong password:
- Use more random looking password.
- Sentence passwords.
- Do nor reuse a single password on multiple platforms.
Don’t use simple “qwerty123” type of passwords, they are your first line of defence, a piece de resistance to your security.
Enabling Biometric Security Features
Biometric features consist of face ID and fingerprint ID. Your biometric data is one and true way to assure security and that you are the person who is authorised for money transactions. Plus, it is not stored on the server, but on your personal phone only, ensuring security.
The feature can be enabled in your phone settings, and many apps, like banking and payment system offer biometric integration in addition to the password, if the feature is available.
Regularly Monitoring Transactions
We recommend regular monitors and checks of all your history of banking activities. This simple habit will help you catch even a minor inconsistency which can save you from much bigger troubles and financial losses. You will be able to quickly take action and report suspicious activity.
Conclusions
Walking your dog in the morning and having a sudden craving for a coffee, or a few hands in an online casino for Kiwis? No problem, if you have your phone and Google Pay with you, and who nowadays walks out of the house without it anyway. But for us at Gamblorium security is #1 reason to recommend Google Pay for our New Zealand players, and convenience goes after that. We like it for the constant upgrades, improvements and state of the art protection like data encryption and tokenization, AI fraud detection and all of the above. We hope that we have answered your question “is it safe to use Google Pay?”.
