Timi is the news and deals reporter for Android Police, who has been reporting on technology since 2008. He has worked in tech retail and also the IT space, providing hardware and software support, which gives him a unique perspective on the tech that he covers. This allows him to effectively break down complex subjects into easy-to-read pieces that even casual readers can enjoy. Before joining Android Police, he was a news writer for XDA, where he eventually transitioned to covering deals. He also worked as an editor and reporter for Neowin, where he covered news and attended major tech events like CES. He also reviewed phones, tablets, PC products, and other devices. In addition, he also created video content for the Neowin YouTube channel.
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Google Wallet has evolved in ways we never thought possible. It’s probably one of the most important apps on your phone, holding your credit and debit cards, ID, concert tickets, transit passes, and more. And while Tap to Pay can be convenient, authorizing each transaction with your preferred method can be a small pain when you’re trying to just pay and go. Well, it looks like Google is exploring ways to change that, with underlying code in the app indicating that something new could be on the way.
Some people will love this
Android Authority looked through the Google Wallet app’s code and found hints that it could let users disable verification when using tap to pay. If Google allows users to disable verification, they will no longer need to provide a PIN, Pattern, Password, or Class 3 biometric unlock to make tap payments.
Some people will be able to see this benefit, especially if you need to make back-to-back transactions quickly. Personally, I don’t really get it. I’ve used tap to pay exclusively for most of my purchases, and I’ve never had issues with verifying each time.
It’s safety first
Now, it’s easy to understand why Google has this safeguard in place. You don’t want to leave your wallet unlocked and susceptible to unwanted transactions. Over the years, we’ve seen frequent reports of what’s called “ghost tapping.”
This is when someone comes near you with a scanner and initiates a Tap to Pay transaction without you even knowing. It could be while you’re walking through a busy store, or just out on the streets. It’s already something that happens, and verification can prevent this.
This is something Google is already going
Verification can currently be disabled on transit cards, which makes it easy to hop in and out of trains, buses, and other supported forms of transportation. There’s no need to enter a PIN or unlock the form using biometrics. You just scan your phone and go.
We have to assume that if this goes live for payment cards, it will work in the same way. Just tap your phone, and you can make your purchase without having to do anything extra. It’s a simple change but one that could have grave consequences.
Again, personally, I’ve never been that pressed on time to make tap payments so quickly. But if it does come around, maybe this is something that can be used at a certain threshold.
Like, any transactions under $50 wouldn’t require verification. But, I’m curious to know your thoughts on this feature. Is there something you could use this for, or is this just one of those things that’s being added just for the sake of it?
