Pay by Touch

**Mikuriel** · 11-16-2005 07:04 PM

November 11, 2005

BY JANET RAUSA FULLER Staff Reporter

...Paying with a finger scan linked to your bank account is the newest thing in grocery shopping, touted as a more convenient and secure way to pay that some say is poised to become as ubiquitous as automated teller machines.

Cub Foods is the first grocery chain in the Chicago area to use biometric payment technology. Rollout of the system began in mid-October and is complete in all but one of the 24 Chicago area Cub Foods stores.

Creates 'data points'

Shoppers sign up for the service at in-store kiosks with a photo ID, their checking account information and a finger scan.

The technology works by creating a set of "data points" from the scan that is converted into a numerical equation, encrypted and securely stored.

The data can't be reconfigured back into a fingerprint, said Tara Rayder, a spokeswoman for Pay By Touch Solutions, the San Francisco company equipping Cub Foods and other chains nationwide with the scanners.

"A check goes through about eight different hands to be processed, so the exposure to the customer for identity theft is very high," Rayder said. "This way, no one sees your account numbers or what account you chose to pay with. You don't have to carry cards or wallets."

The technology is not new, but until now it has been used mostly for security in settings such as airports and banks.

Critics fear ID theft

Saviano, who loads up on groceries every two weeks, signed up because it's convenient.

"I'm always digging in my purse, and he's crying," she said, gesturing to her toddler son.

But even with the assurance that her information was secure and would remain private, Saviano admitted, "It would be scary if that gets out everywhere."

Critics of these systems, while recognizing the efficiency benefits, have similar worries.

"If you get hold of someone else's digital scan, you really have at that point the ability to commit biometric identity theft," said Pam Dixon, director of the World Privacy Forum, a public interest research group in San Diego.

As the technology catches on, the likelihood of that happening increases, she said.

"If I'm a customer and I want ease of payment, is the payoff of giving up unique information that, if something happens to it, you can never replace it -- is that worth the convenience?" Dixon said.
Source

The latest in the creation of a cashless society. I live in the Chicago area, I shop at Cub Foods.

What do you think? Is this cool? The newest fad? We should all jump on?
You know it's only a matter of time, a year or two, before it's not a choice anymore and this will be the only way to pay for groceries. We've all noticed the increase in self checkout lines at all stores...slowly eliminating real people out of the equation as they've done with most "customer service" calls. What happens if there's a bug in the computer?
Will you then be unable to buy food?

Any thoughts?

**Brewtality** · 11-16-2005 07:12 PM

SHit!!! COuld you imagine if someone figured out how to crack that and exploit it for criminal means? Fuck that'd be bad, and also just a matter of time. All of a sudden someone drops something in the street, you pick it up and give it to them, and the thing they 'accidentally' dropped has read your details and you're now about to have your bank account raped. Think about all of the places you put your hands, and how people - with the right technology - could just rip you off completely.

**sprankified** · 11-16-2005 07:20 PM

Think about all of the places you put your hands, and how people - with the right technology - could just rip you off completely.

or your FINGER

I clock in with a bio scanner. it's neato. the oldies can't even believe it! woo technology!

**geleznoff** · 11-16-2005 10:23 PM

not cool man... do you have any idea how many fuckin fingers would get cut off? it'd be pretty bad man.

**Esternogligen** · 11-17-2005 02:34 AM

Instead of digging through a dump for credit cards, all an identity thief would have to do is fingerprint a doorknob.
Dumb idea if u ask me.
I also think its one step closer to having barcodes on our foreheads.

**Mikuriel** · 11-17-2005 10:01 AM

Originally posted by sprankified+Nov 16 2005, 06:20 PM-->

Think about all of the places you put your hands, and how people - with the right technology - could just rip you off completely.

or your FINGER
I clock in with a bio scanner. it's neato. the oldies can't even believe it! woo technology!

[snapback]356908[/snapback]
[/b]

Really Sprank? Pretty neat.
I can see it being used to restrict entry to certain facilities like that, at least your bank account isn't being fucked with.

<!--QuoteBegin-Esternogligen@Nov 17 2005, 01:34 AM
Instead of digging through a dump for credit cards, all an identity thief would have to do is fingerprint a doorknob.
Dumb idea if u ask me.
I also think its one step closer to having barcodes on our foreheads.

[snapback]356990[/snapback]

Barcodes on foreheads or microchips under your skin. I heard they already use microchips under the skin containing medical records in the UK.
Welcome to our brave new world.

**Atom' Package** · 11-17-2005 12:22 PM

An engineering lecturer at reading uni is the first cyborg.he has a microchip in his arm that controls a load of stuff, like he can open certain doors just by somehow using the chip, and log into his computer and stuff. pretty wierd.

self checkout lines iv not seen, but seem cool/not a good thing at the same time.

as to the finger thing; it'd be a bad thing even with good security, like having all your cash with you all the time. impulse buying would go up SO much. plus obviously security would be a bitch.

**Brewtality** · 11-17-2005 09:16 PM

What's so hard about reaching into your wallet, taking out a card, sticking it in a machine, putting your PIN number in, and then walking off???

How is that too much effort?????

**Speed** · 11-17-2005 09:33 PM

I'd rather pay for something by waving my dick in front of a scanner.

**Saint** · 11-17-2005 09:51 PM

Originally posted by Brewtality@Nov 17 2005, 07:16 PM
What's so hard about reaching into your wallet, taking out a card, sticking it in a machine, putting your PIN number in, and then walking off???

How is that too much effort?????

How is using regular old cash too much effort?

**Nipple** · 11-18-2005 11:45 PM

...because we have such a hard time spending our money now?

Thread: Pay by Touch

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Similar Threads

Where to Touch!!!

Don't Fucking Touch Me.

How can I get him to touch me?

He doesn't like to touch me!

Dont touch the kids, touch yurself

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions