14 DAY TRIAL // Credit card skimming is very prevalent in first-world countries, and every other country really, to the point where there are organizations specialized in this which spread across several countries. Because of that, financial services corporations, in this case MasterCard, are always looking for ways to make money transactions safer.
People will always have a reason to nurse a slight or big fear that they'll be skimmed every time they use an ATM. Using a card to pay for purchases at supermarkets doesn't carry the same risks, but hacking isn't unheard of there either.
Safety isn't everything though. There will always be someone smart enough, but also sufficiently opportunistic, to figure out a way to steal someone's money anyway.
MasterCard has now introduced a method of payment that should deal with the biggest blind spots, but also make things easier all around.
The new smart MasterCard
Usually, MasterCard credit cards work like all the others: they have a chip which holds the ownership info, a magnetic strip that allows ATM machines and payment terminals to read them, a card number and security code for online payments, and a code token for online banking.
The new card, however, has two more features, which were installed in a partnership with Zwipe, a company that specialized in biometric technology.
That's right, MasterCard has managed to integrate a fingerprint sensor in its newest cards, so do try not to chew on them or otherwise damage the skin on your fingertips.
Another thing: the new credit card has an NFC chip as well, which should allow it to quickly beam data to whatever ATM or sales terminal you're using. All data regarding an account is supposedly stored on the card itself, instead of an external database.
To use it, you just have to put your thumb on the sensor, point it at a terminal and that's it. The card will do the rest. No more standing in line for ages while the cashier waits for easy customer to provide a card, input a pin and maybe sign a receipt or two.
Availability
The “Zwipe” MasterCard is expected to debut next year (2015) but will probably be emulated by VISA, Discover, American Express and other payment corporations.
If the photo is anything to go by, it could also be smaller than normal cards too, but that's unlikely since the world won't suddenly be able to change all ATMs and payment devices into NFC-based ones. So either the attached picture was Photoshopped to kingdom come, or that's a really big hand.