undefined | Better HN

0 pointsraverbashing12y ago0 comments

"fraud rates in Spain, UK," for what? Credit cards? Debit? There's always going to be fraud one way or another.

"you also type the pin into the same machine... so adding a skimmer..."

There's no copying of SIM Cards.

Yes, you can still copy the magnetic stripe that's there for backwards compatibility. So, yes, it's not going to be safer while there's support for old technology.

My (European) bank issued me a chip-and-pin card without the mag stripe, good for travels, where I won't risk getting my card skimmed again.

0 comments

qwerta12y ago

>There's no copying of SIM Cards.

I would be careful with such statement :-) Security usually maters on type of card, but top range is pretty expensive. There are number of ways howto 'debug' chip using power consumption, xrays etc...

It is easy to copy GSM SIM card. Also operators usually give replacement SIM ( if original gets lost) to anyone with photo id. There were number of frauds in Europe.

raverbashingOP12y ago

"There are number of ways howto 'debug' chip using power consumption, xrays etc..."

The circuit on the chip is known, that's not important. The important thing is the information in rom. Difficult, but certainly not readable through x-ray.

"It is easy to copy GSM SIM card. Also operators usually give replacement SIM"

Of course they can give you a replacement SIM, they can reconfigure their systems to point the customer to the new SIM. That's not copying.

Actual copying would be more difficult.

willvarfar12y ago

I watch the industry and my understanding is that, in practice, chip & pin is not safer, the attacks just change. As does the liability.

crazygringo12y ago

Not good for travels to the US! :)

raverbashingOP12y ago

Yes, I'm not sure about the US, but it worked like a charm in Canadian ATMs

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsraverbashing12y ago0 comments

"fraud rates in Spain, UK," for what? Credit cards? Debit? There's always going to be fraud one way or another.

"you also type the pin into the same machine... so adding a skimmer..."

There's no copying of SIM Cards.

Yes, you can still copy the magnetic stripe that's there for backwards compatibility. So, yes, it's not going to be safer while there's support for old technology.

My (European) bank issued me a chip-and-pin card without the mag stripe, good for travels, where I won't risk getting my card skimmed again.

0 comments

qwerta12y ago

>There's no copying of SIM Cards.

It is easy to copy GSM SIM card. Also operators usually give replacement SIM ( if original gets lost) to anyone with photo id. There were number of frauds in Europe.

raverbashingOP12y ago

"There are number of ways howto 'debug' chip using power consumption, xrays etc..."

The circuit on the chip is known, that's not important. The important thing is the information in rom. Difficult, but certainly not readable through x-ray.

"It is easy to copy GSM SIM card. Also operators usually give replacement SIM"

Of course they can give you a replacement SIM, they can reconfigure their systems to point the customer to the new SIM. That's not copying.

Actual copying would be more difficult.

willvarfar12y ago

I watch the industry and my understanding is that, in practice, chip & pin is not safer, the attacks just change. As does the liability.

crazygringo12y ago

Not good for travels to the US! :)

raverbashingOP12y ago

Yes, I'm not sure about the US, but it worked like a charm in Canadian ATMs

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse