According to the AlipayHK Smart Payment Popularity Index Report recently released by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), about 30% of the respondents have mobile payment experience while 14% intend to adopt mobile payment. The user base of the emerging mobile payment ecosystem will continue to grow as time goes by.
Besides adoption status, the survey also investigated the barriers to adopt mobile payment for the general public and here are the top 4 reasons:
- Unfamiliarity with the operation (68%)
- Worries of personal data leakage (55%)
- Satisfaction with current payment methods (46%)
- Concerns on unsecured account (45%)
The findings indicate that many people are reluctant to use mobile payment due to security related concerns about the new technology.
To keep your digital wallet and mobile transaction safe, check out some security tips that you should follow:
| System-level Security |
- Install anti-virus software on your mobile device if you have not yet done so. Make sure its signature is updated regularly.
- Enable lock screen to automatically lock the device after it has been left idle for the pre-set interval.
- Set up device encryption to prevent unauthorized access to data on your device even if it is stolen or lost.
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| Software Installation |
- Do not host your digital wallet on a jailbroken or rooted mobile device.
- Download the mobile payment application only from official app stores.
- Beware of fake app. Pay attention to the application name and the name of the developer.
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| Application-level Settings |
- Set up a strong payment password or PIN. It should neither be something too simple nor easy to guess. ‘123456’, your birth date or the prefix of your mobile phone number are bad choices.
- Some mobile payment applications allow your friends to see your payment transactions by default. You may change it to ‘Private’ in the setting.
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| When Using the Payment App |
- Avoid using free public Wi-Fi access points for making mobile payment. Use trusted networks or service providers.
- Do not leave your mobile device unattended, especially when you have logged in any mobile payment app.
- If you get notification (by SMS or email) for any transaction you haven’t made, contact the customer service of the payment platform immediately for assistance.
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| Secure Disposal |
- Erase all contents and settings inside your mobile device before reselling or disposing it. Click here for the steps to do so on both iOS and Android devices.
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Cyrus Chan
Specialist (IT Security)
