Robert,

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 21:50:54 -0700, Robert Rolf wrote:

>...<
> What really peeves me is that much more secure systems
> than mag stripe technology exists (e.g. smartcards),
> but the banking industry isn't YET loosing enough money
> to justify the upgrade. 

UK banks obviously think it's worth it - credit/debit cards have had chips in them (as well as the magstripe) 
for a number of years.  Both systems are running in parallel at the moment, wit a lot of retailers still only 
having a swipe-reader, but dual-format readers will refuse to accept the swipe for a card that has a chip, and 
the card has to be plugged in to read the chip.  Until recently this was still confirmed with a signature , 
and they almost always do check it (it still amazes me that US shops hand the card back before you sign the 
slip, so checking the signature is obviously not common!).  UK banks are now introducing "Chip & PIN" whereby 
at retail tills you plug your card into the reader and enter a PIN - I believe they didn't think it was safe 
to use a PIN on the swipe of the magstripe, for the reasons being discussed.  Interestingly the PIN used by 
"Chip & PIN" isn't the same as the one used in ATMs (my current debit card has a chip, and I use it with a PIN 
in ATMs, including abroad, but it doesn't work as Chip & PIN in retailers - the next replacement will, 
though).

Cheers,


Howard Winter
St.Albans, England


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