I’m just scared that they’re saved with reversible encryption on the disk, then malware could steal them

  • WIZARD POPE💫@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Prepaid debit cards for the win. You need to buy something online? Open your banking app, transfer the amount to the card, pay. After that the card is empty and cannot be used to pay flr anything until you need it again.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      That sounds like way more effort than a credit card, especially here in the US where transfers between banks take 2-3 days.

      If you really want to avoid credit, you can lock your debit card and unlock it when you make a purchase. That’s still annoying, but effective. But if you’re responsible, there’s really no reason to avoid credit, and you get rewards on top.

      • SirQuackTheDuck@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        especially here in the US where transfers between banks take 2-3 days.

        *Laughs in SEPA Instant Transfer*

        Anyhow, locking and unlocking is an option. Using “3D Secure” systems - which require a secondary approval via an app or website - works significantly better, and chargebacks are one tap in a banking app (modern apps, so US might again be fucked here).

        • setVeryLoud(true);@lemmy.ca
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          5 months ago

          If it gets stolen (i.e. scam, or breached website), you can’t charge back like with a credit card. That money is still gone, but you do limit your losses compared to using your main debit card.

          • WIZARD POPE💫@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Oh yeah that is true. But at least if just your card details are stolen the card is unusable when empty. As I said it’s best to just keep it empty until you actually buy something and you just put on the exact amount you need.

            • setVeryLoud(true);@lemmy.ca
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              5 months ago

              Unrelated, I actually don’t know if prepaid Visa cards have the same protections as real credit cards. Something to look into, perhaps.

              • WIZARD POPE💫@lemmy.world
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                5 months ago

                What would those be? I don’t have a xredit card so I have no idea what kind of protections they have? I know the prepaid does not work if the amount on the card is lower than the transaction you are trying to do.

                • setVeryLoud(true);@lemmy.ca
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                  5 months ago

                  On credit cards, the most important protection is the ability to charge back fraudulent purchases. You just call your bank, tell them which purchase is fraudulent and you’d like charged back for which reason, they then contact the seller to determine what happened, and if they either don’t play ball or don’t answer, they charge back and rip the money out of the recipient’s accounts.

                  Real credit cards also have other protections, such as mobile device protection, travel insurance (cancellation, sickness, etc.), cash back (paid for by merchant with credit card fees), whatnot.

                  As for where to get prepaid cards, it depends on where you are, but in Canada, lots of banks offer pre-paid Visa cards, especially useful for teenagers so they can make online purchases without the responsibility of a credit card.

                  I just looked it up, it was actually pretty hard to find. Desjardins and Scotia both discontinued their prepaid cards, but here’s an example of one from CIBC: https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/prepaid/ac-conversion-card.html

                  • WIZARD POPE💫@lemmy.world
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                    5 months ago

                    Ah I see. Most banks here offer prepaid cards as well. I have one and must admit it’s probably a good choice I gpt myself one.