Trust Google with Your Money? Not So Fast.
February 26, 2012
Maybe this is a typical minor error, but it sure seems important to us. PCWorld reveals that, because of a security flaw, “Google Wallet Suspends Prepaid Credit Card Functions.” Reporter John P. Mello Jr. explains:
The security flaw was revealed last Thursday by a blogger, identified only as ‘The Smartphone Champ,’ who explained that by opening up the settings section on an Android phone and blanking all the settings for a Google Wallet, an unauthorized user could access any balances on a prepaid card previously linked to the wallet.
Oops. This is actually the second security flaw that has recently been discovered. The hack-ability revealed just the day before by the security firm Zvelo involves cracking the Wallet’s PIN. However, that one calls for more techie skills and could only be performed on phones that had been rooted. Still. . . .
Maybe Google’s fast-cycle method needs a traditional “does this work?” test when credit cards and money are involved. A common sense best practice, really.
Cynthia Murrell, February 26, 2012
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