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.
Of course it was disappointing … and in my opinion … unnecessary (at least the personal stuff), but I definitely understood Musk’s frustration after all he as given up:
