Durability and Security of “Tap to Pay” Touchless Credit Cards
Posted By RichC on June 13, 2025
The heavier metal backed credit cards being issued by some banks these days seemed like a good idea when they first came out, but in reality (at least mine) … they don’t seem that much more durable than the plastic versions?
The Capital One SAVOR credit card that I carry primarily for “restaurants and grocery stores,” due to the 5% and 3% cashback feature, has seen its better days. It isn’t that much older than the plastic cards that I carry (used often though), yet the adhesive used to sandwich the printed back to the metal front peeled apart. With a little extra peeling on my part (after receiving the new card), I was able to popped the chip free. I then wondered if that small lost chip could be stolen and be used at a smart card reader … perhaps even taped to another card or placed on the tip of a finger by a shady character (didn’t try) … but found out that the card needs the entire credit card to function correctly. So to my assistance came Grok AI! 😉
The chip in a credit card, typically an EMV chip, is designed to be an integral part of the card’s security system and isn’t meant to be removed or used independently. Here’s a breakdown of whether it can be removed and used separately on touchless (NFC) smartcard readers:
Physical Removal:
It’s technically possible to remove the chip from a credit card, as it’s a small microchip embedded in the plastic. However, this requires careful extraction (e.g., cutting or dissolving the plastic), and the chip is fragile. Damaging it during removal is likely, which would render it unusable.
Functionality of the Chip:
The EMV chip contains a microprocessor that stores card details (e.g., card number, expiration date) and generates a unique transaction code for each payment. For contactless payments, the chip communicates via NFC (Near Field Communication) with a reader.
The chip is paired with the card’s antenna (a thin wire loop embedded in the card) for NFC communication. If removed, the chip would lack this antenna, making it unable to transmit data wirelessly to a touchless reader. You’d need to attach it to a new antenna, which requires technical expertise.
Security Features:
EMV chips are designed with security in mind. They use cryptographic protocols to authenticate transactions, and the chip is tied to the specific card’s data. Even if you successfully removed the chip and connected it to a new antenna, it would still need to function within the card’s original security framework.
Many chips are tamper-resistant. Attempting to remove or modify them could trigger mechanisms that disable the chip to prevent fraud or unauthorized use.
Practical Use on Touchless Readers:
For the chip to work on a touchless reader, it would need to be powered (typically by the reader’s electromagnetic field via the antenna) and communicate properly formatted data. Without the card’s antenna or a compatible replacement, the chip alone wouldn’t work.
Even if you managed to create a makeshift NFC device with the chip, the reader would expect the chip to follow standard payment protocols (e.g., Visa or Mastercard’s EMV standards). Any mismatch could result in a failed transaction.
Legal and Ethical Considerations:
Removing and repurposing a credit card chip is likely to violate the terms of service of the card issuer and could be considered illegal, as it may be seen as attempting to manipulate or misuse payment systems.
If the goal is to create a custom NFC payment device, you’d be better off using legitimate methods, like tokenizing your card in a mobile payment app (e.g., Apple Pay or Google Wallet) or obtaining an NFC-enabled wearable from your bank.
Conclusion: While it’s theoretically possible to remove a credit card chip and attempt to use it separately on touchless readers, it’s highly impractical due to the need for an antenna, the risk of damaging the chip, and the chip’s security features. It would require significant technical skill to make it work, and even then, it might not function reliably or could be detected as suspicious by payment systems. For practical and legal reasons, it’s not a viable or recommended approach. If you’re looking to use contactless payments in a different form factor, consider using mobile payment apps or contactless wearables provided by your bank.
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