Mobile Phone Parking App

caveman38

I have never been too worried about internet fraud on my PC. We have 2 careful users and are protected (we hope) by our ISP firewall and paid for AV software. As a result I feel comfortable shopping etc. on line.
I don't however feel that comfortable on my mobile. as such, I have yet to use my phone to buy anything where I have had to furnish it with any bank details. That yesterday posed a problem. I was unable to attend an event where I needed to park my car in a "Pay By Mobile" car park. The phone option wasn't working and I had to return home.
How can I make my phone as secure or more secure than my PC, so that I can use on line banking etc.

mobileron

What you do is register a credit card,then should there be a fraud its the Banks money and not yours.
Cant understand why anyone would use a debit card or Bank details online.

AndyPix

You are much much safer doing this stuff on your phone ..


The only thing you need to concern yourself with is that the site you are inputting your card details is genuine ..


Your phone is not open to viruses in the same way that a PC is


Please set aside all the blustering and scaremongering by people who dont know what they are talking about in the media and enjoy the technology..


I cant believe you went home rather than pay for your parking !!!!


By the way, what is this "isp firewall" you speak of ??!!

RumRat

I agree with Andy.
I use my phone to pay for parking all over the country and haven't had an inkling of any problems.
It has the added advantage that you can top up your estimated stay, if your meeting or whatever over runs, without having to leg it back to the car.
After the initial payment it's easier as they have your car reg etc, so saving you much input.

caveman38

AndyPix wrote: »

You are much much safer doing this stuff on your phone ..


The only thing you need to concern yourself with is that the site you are inputting your card details is genuine ..


Your phone is not open to viruses in the same way that a PC is


Please set aside all the blustering and scaremongering by people who dont know what they are talking about in the media and enjoy the technology..


I cant believe you went home rather than pay for your parking !!!!


By the way, what is this "isp firewall" you speak of ??!!

I assumed that VirginMedia would have internet security of their own independent of what I install myself.


I can home because the phone line on the board was not working and to be honest I wasn't thinking straight and failed to realise that with internet on my phone I could have installed the app. Also before I read your replies I was a bit unsure of the security of mobile phone and internet banking etc.
My fear is not so much the companies I would deal with but of me having banking details embedded on my phone and what would happen if the phone was lost or stolen.
I appreciate that these fears most probably seem pathetic to the younger generation bought up with this technology. but I'm an old'un and am not so comfortable with it.

AndyPix

caveman38 wrote: »

I assumed that VirginMedia would have internet security of their own independent of what I install myself. .

No, they just provide the means for the information to flow to/from your premises

caveman38 wrote: »

My fear is not so much the companies I would deal with but of me having banking details embedded on my phone and what would happen if the phone was lost or stolen.


.

No useable info is stored on the device - although i can understand your concern if you werent already sure of this - again, its media hype making you feel this way

caveman38 wrote: »

I appreciate that these fears most probably seem pathetic to the younger generation bought up with this technology. but I'm an old'un and am not so comfortable with it.

Not pathetic atall, totally just
However now you are empowered with the knowledge - embrace the tech

Neil49

You could just open another bank account and keep a minimal balance on it for day to day use or transactions that you are worried about.

If it gets hacked then your main account is unaffected.

I've got a separate account with Monzo which is Internet based and transactions appear on my phone in a few seconds of taking place. If there is anything suspicious I can block the account immediately through the app. I use it all the time and just top up the balance from my main bank account as and when necessary.

ChuckMountain

AndyPix wrote: »

No, they just provide the means for the information to flow to/from your premises

No useable info is stored on the device - although i can understand your concern if you werent already sure of this - again, its media hype making you feel this way

Not pathetic atall, totally just
However now you are empowered with the knowledge - embrace the tech

I agree with most of your points, however to add a little, VM as with most ISPs provider a router to connect to the Internet at home. VM will have some higher level stuff too but it's not cover what the OP wanted.

That router does usually have a built in firewall to give it some protection but security is all about having multiple defences.

To put into non-technical analogy:-

That firewall is the equivalent of you having a bouncer on your houses' front door with a guest list and only allowing those on it through to you. It allows you in and out because the bouncer knows who you are.

Say you now decide to order Pizza delivery from the new pizza shop down the road. The bouncer is aware of the pizza order and so when the delivery person rolls up the Pizza Delivery is allowed through.

Now suppose the new pizza shop actually has poisoned the pizza, the bouncers cursory glance it seems ok. However your AV software which often has both AV + Firewall checks it more thoroughly. This time it is the equivalent of having a food taster and when they keel over dead you know not to eat the Pizza

Phones can still be compromised but this generally involves you visiting a dodgy site or dodgy app and that is generally very rare. Its the equivalent of you going into a dodgy neighbourhood. Be vigilant though.

Phones do store card data now for things like Apple Pay and Android but this is heavily encrypted. In order to use they would need to steal the phone in the same way as stealing your wallet and then get past the pin number\biometrics.

However Parking apps that are in use by councils and most other apps will store CC details securely separately from the phone. Often they have to comply PCI Payment Card Industry security to be allow to process transactions.

AndyPix

Ahh yes - I suppose the OP was referring to the router when they mentioned the ISP firewall


To use your bouncer analogy.


Imagine a club with multiple doors


You approach one of the clubs doors and try to get in.


The bouncer checks your ID to see where you are from, and then decides if you are to be allowed into that door or not depending on its guest list. He may or may not then show you to a specific room


Certain types of people will be allowed in the main door - no matter where they are from


At other doors, only people who come from a certain place will be allowed through

ChuckMountain

Yes though mine was more keeping it as one door\bouncer controlling all access rather than worrying about ports relating to multiple doors etc. to keep it simple

caveman38

Neil49 wrote: »

You could just open another bank account and keep a minimal balance on it for day to day use or transactions that you are worried about.

If it gets hacked then your main account is unaffected.

I've got a separate account with Monzo which is Internet based and transactions appear on my phone in a few seconds of taking place. If there is anything suspicious I can block the account immediately through the app. I use it all the time and just top up the balance from my main bank account as and when necessary.

I like that idea. I have to concede that I have never heard of Monza and till these posts, Atom was the only one I was aware of.
Looking at App only banks, there appear to be quite a few. Is Monza the one favoured by fellow MSEer's?