As we find ourselves firmly in the midst of the age of the internet, security concerns are just as common as ever, if not more so. Our reliance on these systems has made our lives so much better in so many ways, especially in terms of convenience, but this can come at a cost. There are, however, methods and systems which can easily make our online lives all the more secure.
One such system is Paysafecard, an online payment system which has been specially developed to help keep a user and their money safe from interlopers.
What is Paysafecard?
Paysafecard is, in essence, a prepaid online payment system, which is accepted in a massive range of online shops and platforms. You can use Paysafecard in casinos, for example, the most popular of which have extremely tight regulations governing their funding systems. Even better, those playing with Paysafecard are still eligible for all the bonus money and free spins of traditional systems, and with less risk.
Paysafecard works by having users deposit money into an account from a local sales outlet, which can be found with their helpful online search tool. Once at a location, deposits can be made in the amounts of $10, 25, 50, or 100. The user is then given a 16-digit code printout which, despite the name, often comes in receipt style form.
This code acts similar to a credit card number, with the user entering it at any of the thousands of locations that accept Paysafecard to transfer money. No matter how many transactions are needed, this code will work until the full quantity deposited is used, and PINs can even be combined to allow for greater deposits.
What Makes Paysafecard Safe?
The most fundamental aspect of Paysafecard’s safety is born from how money is deposited onto an account. When purchasing a card, only that quantity of money deposited is associated with the PIN account. This means that, even in the worst possible scenarios of outright physical theft or loss, only the quantity on the card can be taken.
Compare this with the way traditional bank and credit card accounts operate. In these instances, theft or security breaches mean that scammers have an effective free-for-all until a user realizes, is notified, or the automatic security systems kick in. By this point, thousands of dollars could easily have been withdrawn, which is simply not possible given Paysafecard limits.
On top of this, bank account or credit card security breaches will require painful steps in resecuring the associated data, to determine how the scam was possible.
Often, the scams which are possible for these more traditional forms of access are simply incompatible with the way Paysafecard operates. This is because Paysafecard is anonymous for most uses, with user data only required for multiple large purchases. In effect, this means that anytime you purchase a good or service with the card, you don’t have to necessarily enter personal information.
With no personal information placed down, any other associated risks such as account hacks and identity theft become much more difficult, if not downright impossible.
Taking Further Steps
Just as with any payment system, there are some potential risks in paying online which can be mitigated or removed completely with a little forethought. These can be addressed on two avenues:
- Run malware scans on your devices
- Never enter payment information on public terminals
Malware like keyloggers is always sneaking into our devices, so in this case, be sure to utilize scanning software to keep your computer or mobile clean. Free programs like Malwarebytes are fantastic in this regard, with well-proven track records.
Using public computers is a bad idea simply because we can never know what is installed upon them. These could have been broken into weeks before you use them, with potential lack of security making them problematic, to say the least.
Often the Best Choice
While there are some cases where more traditional payment systems might be a more convenient option, it should be noted that the likes of Paysafecard are often the most secure choice. When used properly, these cards and their PINs are the banes of hackers and scammers, with the risks being minimalized even in the worst possible scenarios.
For yourself or as gift cards for others, be sure to check out these alternative payment systems if security is one of your major concerns. Available not just here in America, but all over the world, Paysafecard is a valuable tool at home or while traveling and could easily set new standards in online payment safety.