Is Google Pay Safe?

Revolut Contributor

 · 02/28/2020  · 02/28/2020

It’s one of the biggest mobile payment providers around, with over 25 million regular users. However, is Google Pay safe?

It’s a question which a lot of people legitimately want answers to, before they start using the app. And with an ever-growing field of competitors on the contactless mobile payment scene, Google needs to get security right.

Luckily for users of Google Pay – previously known as Android Pay – they have. You can trust your money to be safe with Google’s technology, as they have put in place a number of serious measures to ensure that your personal information and financial details remain secure.

Let’s take a look at Google Pay security in more detail.

What is Google Pay?

Google Pay – or GPay – is Google’s answer to the likes of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. It is an Android app or digital wallet in which you can store your debit and credit cards, and through which you can pay in-app, physically in stores, or online.

In-store payment with Google Pay works with near-field communication (NFC) technology, the same thing that powers contactless payments. Wherever you see the contactless payment symbol, you can pay with Google Pay – meaning that you needn’t fumble around for cash or your credit or debit card every time you make a transaction.

In the United States, you can also use Google Pay to transfer money between friends and family. Elsewhere, the app can be used as a place to store coupons, boarding passes, and event tickets, too.

Is Google Pay Secure?

Given that you’ll be storing many of your cards in your smartphone, it is understandable that you might have concerns about Google Pay security. However, digital wallets use technologies which make your payment details as safe as possible.

How Does Google Pay Work?

One of the most important aspects of Google Pay security is that none of your account numbers or bank details are actually stored on your phone – nor are they ever shared with vendors.

When paying online with a card, you entrust the store with the security of your bank details. However, like other mobile payment services, Google Pay provides the retailer with a “token”, meaning virtual bank details that stand in as a surrogate for yours. This means that, if the vendor gets hacked, your details aren’t at risk. Instead, they are safely encrypted on the cloud.

When you are paying in-store, Google Pay works in the same way. The NFC chip does not transmit the details of your card. It is always a token that is shared.

Google Pay Security on Your Device

In terms of the security of your phone, your device needs to be equipped with an automatic screen lock before you can use Google Pay. If the screen lock is disabled, your account details will be removed.

At the same time, the confirmation of every transaction that you make is displayed on the app too – meaning that you can track when and where every transaction took place.

So, is Google Pay safe? Yes – probably even more so than using contactless cards.

Can You Get Scammed Using Google Pay?

Unfortunately, despite all of the security technologies that Google employs to keep your card details safe, it is always still possible to be the victim of a scam through Google Pay – like with any other payment method. But this risk can be mitigated with care and attention on your part.

When you’re making payments online, it is really important to know exactly what you are buying and to whom you are giving your money. Google will ask you to check your payment before confirming, however this is not always enough. The rest is up to you.

Summary: Is Google Pay Safe?

Google wants to keep your financial details as safe as possible whilst making your buying experience as convenient as possible. To do this, they use some of the most cutting-edge technologies on the planet.

In summary then; the answer is that yes, Google Pay is safe. However, this does not mean that you are untouchable. Whilst Google Pay is certainly secure enough to use, this doesn’t make you invincible to online scams. Always be sure that the transactions you are making are legitimate.

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