Google has a suite of apps designed to tie into each other for maximum convenience, but if we were to pick one app which makes life easy all by itself, Google Wallet would probably win. It is one ofour favorite wallet appsbecause it is available on mobile and Wear OS, giving users ready access to contactless payments, digital IDs, and other passes. Presently, the company is focusing on in-app security with a new feature mandating user authentication for transit payments.
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Google Wallet can store your transit passes for you, so you don’t need to carry one additional card in an already-bulky physical wallet. However, you might be worried people could misuse your transit pass if they gain access to your phone. Google is cognizant of the security risks associated with digital wallets, and9to5Google noticedthe app has a new feature to secure transit passes with biometric authentication.
Protect your passes from misuse
Google has added a new settings toggle called Verification required underWallet settings → Security → Verification settings → Transit payments. When the toggle is switched on, Wallet will demand user authentication by device lock settings such as PIN or fingerprint before processing transactions for transit payments if using a debit or credit card.
TheVerification requiredtoggle is switched on by default for all new users, but it is optional, so you can toggle it off if you’re paying by credit or debit card and don’t need verification. The toggles are separated on theTransit paymentspage underTransit cardsandCredit or debit cards. You will have to authenticate all other payments with the same cards, but Google says dedicated transit passes like Clipper cards in San Francisco don’t need additional authentication.
The new option requesting user verification for transit pass payments by default should greatly improve the security in Google Wallet, without hamstringing the convenience we love. The new option is already rolling out to users running version 24.10 of the app, and we are seeing it on our devices too. In other news, the app also added support forcards from 30 more banksin the US in March, steadily expanding support for digital payments.
