All articles by Verdict Staff
Verdict Staff
Suspect arrested in WikiLeaks ‘revenge’ attacks
A 16-year-old Dutch male has been arrested after admitting to being involved in the pro-WikiLeaks Anonymous gang, responsible for hacker attacks on MasterCard, Visa and PayPals online services. The unnamed teenager was brought in by Netherlands Police on 8 December and appeared before a Rotterdam judge two days later. The judge allowed authorities to hold the suspect in custody for a further 14 days during which an investigation will take place.
G-T-P calls in the administrators
UK-based prepaid issuer G-T-P is reported to have called in the administrators, putting the future of its 27 employees in jeopardy.
MasterCard website down in ‘revenge’ attack
MasterCard has fallen victim to hacker attacks, collectively dubbed ‘Operation Payback’, as it stands accused of ‘bowing down’ to government pressure in its suspension of payments to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.http:www.mastercard.com is currently paralysed and attempts to load the website are unsuccessful. A twitter update revealed by The Guardian served to confirm the self-titled ‘Anonymous’ group were behind the attack:9.39am by user @Anon_Operation “WE ARE GLAD TO TELL YOU THAT http:www.mastercard.com is DOWN AND IT’S CONFIRMED! #ddos #wikileaks Operation:Payback(is a bitch!) #PAYBACK”
ATMIA hits back at cash decline
ATM trade organisation, ATMIA, has rushed to rubbish claims that cash is on the decline in the UK, stating the Payments Council Q3 2010 report uses unscientific anti-cash rhetoric and underestimates cash usage.Ron Delnevo, European chairman of ATMIA and managing director of ATM operator Bank Machine cites unnamed industry experts who suggest the cash figure in the UK is understated by up to 20% or 30% and claim this gap is growing. He undermines the Payment Councils Q3 2010 by claiming more accurate figures would have included this discrepancy.
Asia Pacific Visa spending up 12% in 2010
Payments volume generated on Visa cards across Asia Pacific reached $800bn this year – an increase of 12% on 2009, indicating strong economic recovery in the region.The total number of transactions in the Asia Pacific region increased to 10.2bn, up 11.4% from 12 months ago. Payments volume across Visa debit grew by 42.9% and credit also saw an increase of 9.7% on 2009. Following Visas full year 2010 earnings, it produced the regional breakdown that it claims highlights the continued trend by consumers to use electronic forms of payments rather than cash and cheques throughout Asia Pacific.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get industry leading news, data and analysis delivered to your inbox
LaSer UK launches rewards card with e-retailer
Credit and loyalty services provider, LaSer UK, has joined forces with rewards-based online shopping network, Maximiles to launch a rewards earning credit card. Through the new agreement, customers can now earn Maximiles points through online and offline card purchases, as well as earning reward points when shopping online across a range of retailers via the Maximiles website.
UK government pilot for Visa CodeSure card
The newly launched interactive Visa CodeSure debit card is to be piloted to investigate its success in secure access to online UK government services. Consult Hyperion, IT consultancy firm, has won a competition run by the government-funded Technology Strategy Board to run the Sure Identity pilot programme in conjunction with Visa Europe and information security advisory firm Codes and Ciphers. The project is set to test the assumption that UK citizens will be able to securely and safely access government online services using a debit card with inbuilt secure authentication that can replace the use of password and logon details.
Debit cards overtake cash in the UK
The UK moves ever closer to a cashless society as debit card usage grows at break-neck speed and overtakes cash for the first time.
Travelex launches chip and PIN foreign currency card
Foreign exchange currency provider Travelex is set to launch the US first chip and PIN prepaid foreign currency cards available in Euros and British Pounds.
FIS signs processing deal with Banco Bradesco
Banking and payments technology provider FIS has signed a 10-year card processing deal with Brazils Banco Bradesco and also hints at possible expansion plans in the Latin American region.