Bank card readers: Love 'em or hate 'em?

Goldiegirl

I use a card reader for one of the financial sites I have to access at work, and I find it to be a real pain. It's quite temperamental too, and I can never be sure that it's going to work properly.

If my bank changed its online banking to include use of a card reader I'd have to change banks

Gordon_the_Moron

The HSBC one I have fits on my key ring. If First Direct introduce them (with a bigger version available on request for people with disabilities) I really don't see the problem and it increases security. I'd rather have a secure account, even if I am covered in case of theft/fraud from my account I'd rather it didn't happen. If it costs the bank money that cost will be passed on to the customer one way or another.

Murphybear

I had a card reader with my HSBC business account which was good as I had a client account with a lot of funds in it.

I have 2 personal accounts, both have card readers (and as a point of interest both cards work with both readers). Barclays changed the access a while ago so you can either still use the reader or set up additional security codes so it is not necessary. I imagine they got a lot of complaints. The Coop sent me a card reader but I do not need it to access my account.

I agree they are a pain because I access my bank accounts in the middle of the night using my ipad and couldn't be bothered to trail round the house trying to remember where I had left the pesky things. Ps that wasn't laziness, going up and down stairs just after a knee replacement was no joke

RussellR

jamesd wrote: »

And HSBC closely followed by First Direct deserves perhaps the most opprobrium of all, for they are introducing a system that doesn't even manage to block the man in the middle type of attack that such things can be very useful to block. It's not quite pure security theatre but it's the closest I've ever seen a UK bank using.

Sorry if I'm misreading your post, but I don't understand why you think that HSBC and First Direct don't have a system to block 'man in the middle' attacks.

For several years they have proactively offered the Trusteer Rapport software which does this and you only need to install it on your system from the HSBC or First Direct website to get it working.

I have this on my PC and have never experienced a problem with it so consider that it is doing its job. The Secure Key adds another level of security which I would rather have than run the risk of losing my hard earned money

Nicky101

they are like a lot of things.
they can be a help or a hazard.
it depends how they are used.

tBagpuss_2

I have no problem with the way mine are set up - I need to use the reader to add new payees, but can make payments to existing payees without. I feel that is a reasonable level of security.

It would be a paid to have to use one every time I logged in, and I would consider switching banks to avoid having to do so.

I have never had any problems with either of mine, which probably colours my view!

MothballsWallet

If mine ever give me grief, I'll be introducing them to Mr Sledgehammer before requesting a new one