But, a new gadget is reportedly being used by criminals to clone contactless bank cards from people who are just standing nearby. The scanner, called Contactless Infusion X5, takes the information from the card so that it can be rewritten onto blank cards. Ready-made con kits which include the X5, special software, and 20 blank cards are also being sold on the black market in London for £500 ($731). This device is thought to be the first one to specifically target contactless blank cards - a technology that enables customers to pay for goods with just a single tap of their card on a reader, without needing to provide a signature or enter a PIN number.
Though not as popular as credit or debit cards, the UK Cards Association revealed that contactless spending reached £1 billion - (about $1.4 billion) for the first time since November 2015, most likely due to their convenience - the card is being boosted by the rising popularity of 'tap and go' payments, with mobile payment services such as Apple Pay. The average UK adult made about 20 card payments per month in 2015, with around two payments per month being contactless.
Could this new payment trend be too risky for users?
WARNING: Why We Shouldn't Lie on Our Stomachs!
Lying on your stomach for long stretches of time or every day can have some negative consequences...
WARNING: Don't Keep This Product in Your Car
Hand sanitizers can be found in plenty of vehicles, maybe even in yours, but is it wise to store them there?
Air Hand Dryers - Is It EVER a Good Idea to Use Them?
Is it ever a good idea to use air hand dryers in a public restroom, especially considering the threat of the coronavirus pandemic?
Guide: How to Use Rising Interest Rates to Your Benefit
Consider these tips to meet your investment goals when rates are rising.
10 Bad Tips Life Coaches Like to Give
10 tips that should be taken with caution and not solely relied upon for success.
Eating These 9 Common Foods Raw Is Extremely Dangerous
These 9 common foods are fine and even nutritious when cooked, but eating them raw can be toxic or otherwise dangerous for your wellbeing
Behind the Scenes of the Human-Like Atlas Robot
In this video, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the incredible Atlas robot.
24 Confusing Optical Illusions Explained - Fascinating!
How do our eyes fool the brain? Let's find out as a neuroscientist explains the truth behind the most confusing optical illusions.
Ever Wonder What Life Is Like if We Zoom In All the Way?
A selection of some of the winning photographs from Nikon's yearly macro photography contest.
7 Exciting Physics Tricks You Have to See!
Watch these seven remarkable physics tricks in this exciting and fun video.
Remembering the Life and Wisdom of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking possessed one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen, but was also impaired by a debilitating disease. Here are his life ant times.
24 Smart Storage Inventions You Didn't Know You Needed
These super useful inventions are designed to make you help space!
10 Fascinating Facts About the Subconscious Mind
10 facts about the way the subconscious mind works
8 Inventions of 2023 That Will Change The Way We Live
This year was a prominent one for ground-breaking innovations that will change the way we live.
Understanding the Aging Process of Our Body Parts
Find out how every organ and body part in our body changes with age.
Scientists Develop 'Flying Dragon' Robot to Fight Fires
Scientists in Japan have created a water-spitting 'flying dragon' robot to fight fires.
Whatever Happened to that Hole in the Ozone Layer?
Let's embark on this enlightening journey to better understand our atmosphere's health.
These Inventions Prove the Middle Ages Were Not So “Dark”
These groundbreaking inventions prove the Middle Ages were not so “dark,” after all!
25 Pics Showing How People in the Past Imagined the Future
Let’s see how the people of the past imagined the future and find out if their fun predictions came true with these 25 vintage pictures
11 Technologies to Potentially Achieving Immortality
Scientists are hard at work developing technologies that could extend our lifespans and even make us immortal. Here are 11 of them.
How To Be Sure Your Dog Adores You
10 scientific ways to know if your dog loves you
Scary Stories: 11 of the World's Creepiest Experiments
Truth is stranger than fiction, and this can be said for occurrences in the scientific world too. Here are 11 of the world's creepiest experiments
6 Intriguing Archeological Finds of the 21st Century
These archaeological and paleontological discoveries were made in the past 10 years and they're equally fascinating and intriguing...
First US Embryo to be 'Edited'; Rise of Genetic Changes!
Could the first human embryos be genetically modified?
The Curious Science of Tricking Your Taste Buds
Did you know you could confuse your sense of taste? Find out how!
GUIDE: How Alcohol Affects Us, Drink by Drink...
In this article, we're going to discuss the exact amounts of alcohol in our blood and what they look like, including how each level affects us and our ability to function.
What’s it Like Using a 115-Inch TV?!
This colossal 115-Inch TV will transform your viewing experience forever.
New Study: There is a Sure Way to Slow Aging
This new study confirms what has long been suspected: The less calories we consume, the slower we age.
2023 in Science: Biggest Discoveries You Missed!
Let’s take a look at the most amazing scientific discoveries that made news this year.
The Accidental Discovery of the World’s First Antibiotic
Not too long ago, it was fairly common to die of the simplest of wounds due to bacterial infection. Penicillin changed everything.
Science Breakthrough: An Immunization Against Skin Cancer?
This scientific breakthrough offers hope for those who are struggling with skin cancer. You are now invited to discover more about this revolutionary vaccine.
Check Out This Radio-Controlled Lego-Powered Submarine
This is the height of creativity! Check out this insanely cool Lego submarine. It actually works!
5 Puzzling Mysteries That Science Finally Managed to Solve
These weird occurrences have puzzled humanity for decades, if not centuries. Finally, scientists solved them & the solutions are exciting...
Are Smartphones Making Us Stupid? This Will Surprise You!
If you use a smartphone you need to see this!
10 Classic Paradoxes fom Philosophy, Math, and Physics
in every sphere of human knowledge, we’re bound to run into inconsistencies. That’s how fascinating paradoxes like these are born.
Thought Nature is Wild? See It Under a Microscope
You won't believe the things you could discover by looking at everyday items under a microscope.
These 20 Tech Inventions Will Define the Next Decade
The future is here. Check out some emerging technologies that are all set to chane our world forever.
10 Real-Life Technologies That Science Fiction Foretold
Sometimes even the wildest science-fiction predictions about the future come true.
Scientists Finally Know Why We Love Cute Things
We find some things to be irresistibly cute. But why? Let’s find out.
12 Earliest Versions of Tech Inventions We Use Every Day
Witness the evolution of 11 popular devices we use all the time by looking at how they all started...
These Wacky Inventions of the Past Appear Odd to Us Today!
These vintage tech inventions may look very interesting or even incredible, but their practicality today is questionable...
This Mind-Blowing Talk Explores the Nature of Reality
In this video, cognitive scientist, Donald Hoffman, attempts to answer this mind-blowing question in this incredible TED talk.
9 Women Inventors Who Have Been Overlooked by History
History has overlooked many great women inventors. Here’s your chance to get to know a few of them.
What Does Medicine ACTUALLY Do In the Body? Fascinating.
What really happens in our bodies when we take medicine, have you ever wondered? This video will answer your question.
Discover How Anesthesia Affects Your Body and Mind
If you were ever curious about how exactly anesthesia works, then this video has all the answers!
6 Remarkable Yet Overlooked Minds That Shaped Our World
These underappreciated geniuses deserve more recognition.
These Expensive Megaprojects Proved to be a Waste of Time
Not all megaprojects are useful. Here are some worthless ones.