Obama Campaign Using Mobile Credit Card Readers…But Are They Safe?
- Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:12am by
Liz Klimas
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The white attachment at the base of the phone is Square, a portable credit card reader. (Image: Square)
According to Politico, campaigners for President Barack Obama’s re-election will be ready to take your monetary donation at a moment’s notice using credit card readers that attach to smartphones:
Campaign personnel are being issued Square mobile credit card readers, allowing them to process donations with their iPhone or Android phones, a campaign official tells POLITICO. The rollout will happen nationwide, and involve staff at all levels.
Politico reports that this is the first time the technology has been used on the national political scene.
Last year, The Blaze reported that Square, a dongle that attaches to smartphones and some tablets to allow credit card purchases to be taken on the go, could open the door for a new form of credit card theft — one that doesn’t even require a card to swipe. Two hackers from Aperture Labs were able to manipulate the software to accept a stolen credit card number, without having to swipe any magnetic strips, and send money directly into a bank account. When revealing this security issue, the hackers suggested Square begin encrypting data to avoid this problem.
By the way, this past Christmas, the Salvation Army used Square to take donations for its Red Kettle campaign at major cities in the United States.
[H/T Gizmodo]
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Dan_o
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:36amWhat’s the minimum charge per transaction? $3?
I’ll gladly donate $1 if it costs them $3.
Report Post »54smom
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:48pmWhat are they going to with all of their Billions. Look out whiners, we are about to find out what rich is
Report Post »all about! This credit card thing is just a drop in their billion bucket.
The Voice of Libertarian Reason
Posted on February 1, 2012 at 8:26am@Mom – I‘m not sure what you’re trying to say.
Is everyone missing the real point of this article?
Innovation, they have it, we don’t. If you want to get more people to vote Republican you need to update your ways. Sitting at home posting nonsense on The Blaze for other similar thinking Blaze readers is useless. Go out and try talking to a 20 something about the upcoming election. You may find that they are only spewing what they have been told throught out their entire education (schools are hot spots for looney lefties who love to preach), and if you offer them alternative ideas they MIGHT ponder them and make an informed decision. Or maybe they’ll call you racist and glitter bomb you, but at least you tried.
On another note these things are a small business mans best friend. The dongles are typically free (after rebate) and the sercive is very cheap. It gives everyone the ability to accept credit cards from anywhere cell service is available. Farm stand, mobile food venders, ladies of the night, etc….
But seriously people, wake up you’re a dieing breed.
Report Post »bmel
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:23pmyou have got to be kidding.Hey Chinese hackers here you go.
Report Post »Dan_o
Posted on February 2, 2012 at 10:15amNot to mention their only function is to give money to Obama. Isn’t that dangerous enough?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 10:54pmHA the campaign is asking “Can we take $5 out of your wallet? We will hand it right back……..”
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 8:37pmI sure hope they are not safe.
Report Post »Anyone idiotic enough to give obama money should lose everything they own.
beekeeper
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:41pmWhat could possibly go wrong with this idea – except when a clever person puts on an Obama T-Shirt, grabs their iPhone and a $10 ‘box’ and heads out to ‘collect donations for Obama’? I imagine there will be a real fraud issue with these, not to mention the identity theft possibilities.
This will blow-up in their faces.
Just like the 20-something‘s that couldn’t figure out how to collect valid signatures in Wisconsin recall effort…
Report Post »jatalbott
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 5:46pmWant to donate? You‘ll find it’s not hard
With these card readers–so avant-garde.
I don’t know what this says
Of the mind of our prez…
Fiscal policy–run up the card.
http://headlinelimericks.blogspot.com/
Report Post »TheVoice1
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:15pmReal Live Intelligence test of Obama voters…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=woBC5b3Ti0M
Stand Strong America
Report Post »junkbuster50
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 6:29pmBuyer beware. It does not seem to me that the American public has a true perception of the extent to which it is being robbed blind. ACORN hacked before, the same people will do it again. This Smart Phone donation bit is one more Obamanian ripoff.
Report Post »Plumber1911
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:43pmGod No
Report Post »cobra two
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:42pmNObama 2012!
Report Post »jeepkid99
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 4:18pmif they came to me i’d gladly donate my 2 cents!
Report Post »cosmic dogma
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:47pmInstead of complaining about it, ADOPT THE SAME PRACTICES. Republicans are lagging behind in technology. Do something about it. Let’s get us some of them thar things!!!
Report Post »olddog
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:43pmObama campaign collecting all this money to re elect this idiot but not using any of that money to create jobs..These people aren’t democrats, they’re socialists and communists taking over your country…
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:57pmHave been screaming that for 3 plus years- where did the old democrats go? No longer is the DNC even resembling the D part. Socialism, soft core communism and progressism own it now. It used to be you could still talk to a Democrat. The people wearing the D now, I have no use for.
Report Post »armywife987
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:38pmRemember in the ‘ 08 election people were seeing $5, $10 charges to Obama on their statement and they never gave to Obama. Watch your credit card statement very carefully especially during elections.
Report Post »sjohn70037
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:35pmLet me axe you this; can I’s use my welfare card?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:48pmWhy yes, we’re running a special! For every dollar you donate, we’ll return two after the election.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 3:59pmNo EBT sadly enough-legally of course. Big ol loss on that account in hindsight. But you can pawn your rims and bling and we will thank you kindly. Tru dat, yo.
Report Post »ThankBabyJesus
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:34pmgood for pizza delivery.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:29pmI’m in absolutely no danger of having my info stolen by an Obama fund raiser.
Report Post »ncts12
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:57pmnope,me neither
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:14pmI’ve read obama already has a massive campaign fund which dwarfs the combined funds of repubs. Me thinks the obama campaign will buy more than TV commercials and buttons.
Report Post »K Clark
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:13pmI’ve been led to believe that the “Square” is safe. Some Boy Scout troops are using it when they are out selling popcorn.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:08pmDoes the term “reputable” apply here?
rep·u·ta·ble [rep-yuh-tuh-buhl]
adjective
1. held in good repute; honorable; respectable; estimable: a reputable organization.
2. considered to be good or acceptable usage; standard: reputable speech
Uhhhh….. I don’t think so. These are kissing cousins to the Occupy folks and if you still have a sufficient credit rating to have a credit card, you MUST be one of the 1%.
Report Post »One of the Quiet Ones
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 2:05pmDid anyone ever investigate if all of the prepaid credit cards were actually issued or were numbers just generated. That would be interesting.
Report Post »workinghard
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:37pmI own a small business that takes credit cards. If I was corrupt I could sell your credit card number very easily. Employees don’t know how to convert those little dots into the actual numbers but I am guessing they could figure it out. Especially if they could take the device home with them and work on it in their friend’s basement where nobody is watching.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:13pm“Are They Safe?”
Um, look at who’s holding them! Safe? Really? They ought to require a licence no Politician could ever get!
Report Post »Blazen420
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 12:55pmHell no they’re not safe! Would you give your credit card number to crook?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 1:25pmYes… the Government captures every OnLine Key Stroke!
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on January 31, 2012 at 12:48pmDuring Obama’s 2008 campaign, prepaid credit cards were used by doners. Credit card payments by other doners were processed with security protocols disabled. The attachment could also read all of your other information including passwords, etc. Be very careful.
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