Do you like self-checkout?

[tango]

No, they don't capture that information nor store it, it would violate PCI data standards and the stores would be in major hot water with the credit card companies. Capturing an image of a shopper is what the above cameras are used for, but the resolution is not anywhere near good enough to capture a credit card number. The cameras in the scanning bed (if they are present) don't point at the payment part of the system, so they would not capture that data either, and honestly the resolution of those is not good enough to capture a credit card number either - it's just not their purpose.

My company helps install these things.

I'd still be cautious with my credit card around a camera like that. I can't say I've waved a card in front of the camera to test the resolution, but I make sure to hold my finger over the number before putting it anywhere it can be seen by a camera. My concern is that if video is being stored (and presumably it is, to use as evidence if someone is suspected of theft) then the video will capture whatever is put within the field of view of the camera.

I use electrical tape over webcams when I'm not using them. I often think I should put tape over the credit card number, given how infrequently I need to read it.

Maybe I'll print some stickers with barcodes designed to mess with the readers. Anything to thwart the seemingly relentless takeover of life by machines processing everything.

 

[Castle Church]

I'd still be cautious with my credit card around a camera like that. I can't say I've waved a card in front of the camera to test the resolution, but I make sure to hold my finger over the number before putting it anywhere it can be seen by a camera. My concern is that if video is being stored (and presumably it is, to use as evidence if someone is suspected of theft) then the video will capture whatever is put within the field of view of the camera.

Hey, no worries if you want to be more cautious . But really, I sell these cameras and systems, they really can't see the number on the card, they just don't have that resolution unless you held it very close to the lens.

 

[tango]

Hey, no worries if you want to be more cautious . But really, I sell these cameras and systems, they really can't see the number on the card, they just don't have that resolution unless you held it very close to the lens.

It's just a question of figuring the natural movement of the card from my wallet to the card reader and how close to the lens it does get. Then there's the remaining question of what other cameras might be in the area, even if unrelated to the system that processes the self-checkout.

 

[Castle Church]

It's just a question of figuring the natural movement of the card from my wallet to the card reader and how close to the lens it does get. Then there's the remaining question of what other cameras might be in the area, even if unrelated to the system that processes the self-checkout.

I can't speak for all retail, but the ones we use are all tied into the same CCTV system, just another camera on the network. The ones not in the actual cash wrap have even less resolution to see a CC#, they are just too far away. Their main purpose is to see people and to see if someone is stealing something, not capture very small print on an item. They just don't have that resolution.

 

[Lamb]

I can't speak for all retail, but the ones we use are all tied into the same CCTV system, just another camera on the network. The ones not in the actual cash wrap have even less resolution to see a CC#, they are just too far away. Their main purpose is to see people and to see if someone is stealing something, not capture very small print on an item. They just don't have that resolution.

That's really good to know!