Is Apple Pay safe? Everything you need to know

Is Apple Pay safe?

Yes, Apple Pay is safe. While no payment system is 100% secure, contactless payments like Apple Pay are among the safest payment options. Apple Pay is also considered safe because it uses advanced security features like encryption and tokenization.

Is Apple Pay more secure than using debit or credit cards?

Yes, Apple Pay is more secure than using debit or credit cards.

When you use a physical card, you expose your card number during transactions, which increases the risk of theft and fraud through skimming devices or data breaches at merchants. In contrast, Apple Pay keeps your credit or debit card number hidden by using tokenization, which replaces it with a unique, one-time passcode. Additionally, Apple Pay does not store your card numbers on your device or Apple servers.

Physical cards are also vulnerable to loss or theft, while Apple Pay transactions require biometric authentication through Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. This security measure ensures that even if you lose your Apple device, it is nearly impossible for someone else to make transactions using your Apple Wallet.

Nevertheless, no system is foolproof. Apple Pay users should still take care and stay alert to protect their financial information.

What makes Apple Pay safe?

Apple Pay has standout security features that make it one of the safest ways to make payments:

• Encryption and tokenization

• Biometric authentication

• No physical card

• Protection in case of loss or theft

• Your transactions stay private

Unique encryption and tokenization

Each time you swipe a traditional credit card, the magnetic strip on the back transmits your card number and other identifying details to the merchant. This makes it easy for credit card skimmers to steal and copy your card information.

Apple Pay works differently. Each transaction is encrypted with a unique code, which changes every time you use it. This process ensures that the same code is never used twice. Tokenization replaces your credit or debit card number with a unique device account number (token). This process makes it nearly impossible for thieves to intercept and use your financial information.

When you pay with Apple Pay, the merchant doesn’t get your card details, so they can’t track which credit card you used. Even if a criminal intercepts the data, the encrypted code would be useless to them. The unique encryption used by Apple Pay is very effective in protecting you from credit card fraud.

Biometric authentication

Apple Pay uses biometrics as part of its multi-factor authentication (MFA) process. When you make a transaction with Apple Pay, it requires both something you have (your device) and something unique to you, such as Face ID or Touch ID, which are forms of biometric authentication.

Biometric authentication ensures that no one else can use your Apple Pay if your phone is stolen. In contrast, a thief could easily use your stolen credit card at a store that doesn’t check IDs. Plus, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express no longer require signatures, which makes stolen cards even easier to use.

No physical card

Apple Pay uses NFC technology to enable secure, contactless transactions between your device and the card reader so you can keep your physical card in your wallet. Even if someone steals your phone, they have far fewer options to cause harm than with a traditional card, especially if you have biometric authentication like Face ID or Touch ID enabled.

Protection in case of loss or theft

If you lose your mobile phone and have the “Find My” feature enabled, you can put your device in lost mode from your account page. Marking your phone as lost will suspend Apple Pay and prevent unauthorized charges without canceling your cards. No debit or credit card authorization will be processed on Apple Pay. If you find your device, you can reactivate it and continue using Apple Pay. You’ll also have the option to erase your lost device, which will suspend all connected cards, even if the device is offline. This applies to all Apple devices, not just the iPhone.

Your transactions stay private

Apple doesn’t store or have access to the original credit, debit, or prepaid card numbers you use with Apple Pay, which ensures your sensitive information stays private. When you make a payment, Apple also doesn’t keep any transaction details that can be traced back to you — your purchases remain confidential between you, the merchant, and your card issuer.

Instead, Apple only retains anonymous data, such as the purchase amount, app developer and app name, date and time, and whether the transaction was successful. This way, your privacy is protected while allowing Apple to improve its services.

How to make Apple Pay even more secure

Apple already offers robust security features, but you can make Apple Pay even safer. You can significantly boost your Apple Pay security by using available features, improving your cybersecurity knowledge, and applying common sense.

• Don’t share your passcode. Sharing your passcode is like giving someone the key to your home. The risk is not worth it. Keep your passcode to yourself to ensure that only you can use Apple Pay.
• Use biometrics. Enable Face ID or Touch ID for an extra layer of security. These features use your unique facial features or fingerprints to verify your identity and authorize payment.
• Report lost devices ASAP. If your Apple device goes missing, immediately report it using the “Find My” feature. Marking your device as lost will suspend Apple Pay and prevent unauthorized charges.
• Avoid adding other users' biometrics. While Apple allows you to add multiple Face IDs or Touch IDs, think twice before doing so. If a relationship turns sour, the other person could cause security issues.
• Enable the “Find My” feature. Make sure you activate this feature on another Apple device. Doing so lets you track your lost phone and remotely suspend Apple Pay to prevent unauthorized use.
• Be aware of Apple Pay scams. Scammers who obtain your Apple Pay credentials can access your Apple Wallet app and any linked cards. Be on the lookout for phishing emails and texts, fake customer support calls, and malicious software designed to steal your information.

So is Apple Pay safe to use? (TL;DR)

Yes, Apple Pay is one of the safest payment methods. It uses advanced security features like encryption, tokenization, and biometric authentication to protect your financial information. Unlike physical cards, Apple Pay keeps your card numbers hidden and requires Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to authorize transactions, which makes it difficult for thieves to use your device.