peg110
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2015
From all that I have read so far, the chip CAN be hacked, however, the window to do damage is limited to about 1 minute. Essentially, the machine that the chip goes into gives a "Unique" id that is only valid for 1 minute. So that value has to be transmitted to something waiting that can use that number within the minute. It's very difficult to really do.
In all fairness, there are other ways the data can be captured off the card and stolen. The card (and/or it's info) will pass many hands before it makes it to yours. Any one of which could steal and then sell that information. Some examples are, The CSR rep at the card issuer how might have access to the data (or a system/database admin), one of the workers at the place where the card is created and subsequently shipped out to you, any number of postal workers that handle that plain white envelope (like that helps, because ANYONE who has ever gotten a credit card knows what they are like), A neighbor delinquent that got to your mail box before you did. A kid peaking into daddy's wallet, etc....
Is it "RF enabled"? Did you pass by a card reader somewhere? (you might be surprised how many legitimate ones are out there).
Did the card get swiped in a reader ANYWHERE?
Was the card used ANYWHERE online or over the phone?
I am not saying that this is the case with any of these, but it could have been one of them. From all I have read so far, hacking the chip, while not impossible, is not the easiest way to go. Knowing what I know about thieves (as a former law enforcement official) one thing thieves will generally do is take the easier path. The Chip is not that path.
I also have to ask, how do you know WHERE it was hacked? Just because it may be the only place YOU used it, doesn't mean that's the only place it could have been hacked. (It doesn't mean it isn't either, however).
Regardless, I understand the frustration, as we had an issue with my DW's Visa Debit card while on our last vacation. Fortunately, we had a viable work around, but it's still very frustrating.
In all fairness, there are other ways the data can be captured off the card and stolen. The card (and/or it's info) will pass many hands before it makes it to yours. Any one of which could steal and then sell that information. Some examples are, The CSR rep at the card issuer how might have access to the data (or a system/database admin), one of the workers at the place where the card is created and subsequently shipped out to you, any number of postal workers that handle that plain white envelope (like that helps, because ANYONE who has ever gotten a credit card knows what they are like), A neighbor delinquent that got to your mail box before you did. A kid peaking into daddy's wallet, etc....
Is it "RF enabled"? Did you pass by a card reader somewhere? (you might be surprised how many legitimate ones are out there).
Did the card get swiped in a reader ANYWHERE?
Was the card used ANYWHERE online or over the phone?
I am not saying that this is the case with any of these, but it could have been one of them. From all I have read so far, hacking the chip, while not impossible, is not the easiest way to go. Knowing what I know about thieves (as a former law enforcement official) one thing thieves will generally do is take the easier path. The Chip is not that path.
I also have to ask, how do you know WHERE it was hacked? Just because it may be the only place YOU used it, doesn't mean that's the only place it could have been hacked. (It doesn't mean it isn't either, however).
Regardless, I understand the frustration, as we had an issue with my DW's Visa Debit card while on our last vacation. Fortunately, we had a viable work around, but it's still very frustrating.