What's this Google Wallet Thing?

[Kropotkin]

I'm trying to buy something from a supplier who seems to only use something called Google Wallet.

I've never hard of this, and my account - an academic one with an .edu address - apparently won't allow me to use it.



Does anybody know anything about this?

 

[Figgy]

It's payment processing through Google. I have an account attached to my gmail address. I have an Android phone and this is the way I pay for things on their app store. I have a credit card linked to the account. You can also buy credit and just keep a balance in the account. It's similar in that way to iTunes except there are other vendors who can use the system.

 

[Engraced]

It's pretty much Google's answer to the eBay-owned Paypal.

I trust Google a lot more than Paypal, so it's the only online payment system I'll use.

 

[Techwipe]

It's google handling everything in your wallet, if you trust them to. I wouldn't, but then again I'm paranoid about that stuff.

 

[nanovapr]

Step 1. Add Ghostery as a plugin for your preferred web browser.
Step 2. Browse your favorite Goggle or Evilbay or lolz sites.
Step 3. See how many things are tracking you.
Step 4. Decide what you like!
Step 5. *.edu? contact your IT people.

 

[Figgy]

It's google handling everything in your wallet, if you trust them to. I wouldn't, but then again I'm paranoid about that stuff.

What do you prefer to use instead?

 

[Techwipe]

Step 1. Add Ghostery as a plugin for your preferred web browser.
Step 2. Browse your favorite Goggle or Evilbay or lolz sites.
Step 3. See how many things are tracking you.
Step 4. Decide what you like!
Step 5. *.edu? contact your IT people.

Ghostery is awesome, use it on my laptop, also web of trust plugin for chrome.

 

[AttyPops]

That rots OP.

I use a pre-paid credit card and fund it as needed for online stuff. They can't steal much if the balance is kept low. If a vendor won't take a "normal" credit card... I skip em.

As for password tracking and/or wallets... the safest thing is to not store that stuff on your computer at all, IMO. The hackers can't get at what isn't there. Not to say your passwords/CC#'s can't ever be hacked...but they won't be copied off your system if it isn't stored there and not stored a "wallet" somewhere in the cloud. The best system is a "little black book" with sites & passwords in it that you keep safe from local tampering.

That said, passwords (or proper checksums) have to be stored on the host system somehow...so no 100% solution exists for that. Most sites don't actually store cc #'s permanently. However, there seems to be a lot of "issues" with small-time processors and systems... so fund as needed IMO.

Bottom line is that I don't trust any software with secure stuff if I can avoid it.

 

[AttyPops]

P.S. And use a good anti-virus software anti-malware and run frequent scans to look for key-loggers. Ups your odds of avoiding trouble.

 

[Techwipe]

What do you prefer to use instead?

I use Lastpass for password storage. The prepaid cards are good for online spending. I'm fairly fortunate to have a bank that actually pays attention to strange purchases.

 

[Figgy]

I use Lastpass for password storage. The prepaid cards are good for online spending. I'm fairly fortunate to have a bank that actually pays attention to strange purchases.

I'm a fan of lastpass, too. My bank is pretty hyper about fraud protection. Pretty much any time I make a decent sized electronics purchase, they put a hold on my account until they can get me on the phone and confirm.

 

[Engraced]

I use Lastpass for password storage. The prepaid cards are good for online spending. I'm fairly fortunate to have a bank that actually pays attention to strange purchases.

Ditto that. My bank actually called me to find out if the charges in Ohio were legit as I was supposed to be in North Carolina (I normally go the first week of August to see my bro). I was surprised at a) their tracking abilities and extreme insight into my life, and b) their give-a-damn.

 

[Kropotkin]

Holy crap! I have no idea what you people are talking about!

Couldn't I just send, like, money?

 

[anavidfan]

Have you emailed SIr Lawrence at vapormoon? Im sure if you communicated with him you might be able to come up with a solution. He and his products are wonderful. His customer service is impecable

 

[AttyPops]

...snip...Couldn't I just send, like, money?

What's that?

 

[nanovapr]

Couldn't I just send, like, money?

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[Racehorse]

I use a pre-paid credit card and fund it as needed for online stuff. They can't steal much if the balance is kept low. If a vendor won't take a "normal" credit card... I skip em.

I have a separate credit card/debit card, tied to a separate bank account, for online purchases.

It is not associated with my regular checking account at all.

As for "software security", there is really no such thing, ultimately. If you want a well-protected computer system, set up a separate gateway/hardware firewall so you can control what comes and goes.

My CC has been hacked by big box stores, famous names. If you are a computer specialist, and have actually done service calls at some stores, you know what I'm talking about....satellite locations of large famous names........I've seen real scary stuff.