ITNE2002 Network and Information Security: Google Play Wallet Report

This report provides an analysis of the security aspects associated with Google Play Wallet, a convenient payment method offered by Google. It discusses the security features, such as two-factor authentication and data encryption, and examines the business model, including offers and privacy policies. The report identifies key security challenges like fraud, chargebacks, card data security, malware impacts, and wallet hacking. Furthermore, it proposes ways to enhance security within Google Play Wallet, including the use of two-factor authentication, security keys, device fingerprinting, risk analysis, tokenization, and security awareness programs. The report concludes that while Google Play Wallet offers a convenient way to manage money and perform transactions, there is a critical need to focus on security concerns to minimize card detail theft and data breaches.

Running head: NETWORK AND INFORMATION SECURITY ASSIGNMENT 2
ITNE2002 NETWORK AND INFORMATION SECURITY ASSIGNMENT 2
GOOGLE PLAY WALLET- SECURITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1Network and Information Security Assignment 2
Introduction
The main aim of the report is to discuss about the security aspect associated with the
Google play wallet. Google play wallet offers a convenient way of making the transaction. This
ensures that the transaction is being performed effectively with minimum time and effort. There
are different steps associated with the Google play wallet that are needed to be performed before
performing the transaction. Google play wallet uses two ways verification method that ensures
proper user is accessing the wallet. However as the credentials are stored within the mobile of
the users it becomes more important to implement proper security measures within the device.
This report mainly aims at focusing on the Google play wallet security aspects and the strategy
that is taken for the purpose of mitigating the issues.
Google play wallet Security
Google play wallet is a new way of making payment for the purpose of buying the
applications in Google store. This payment system was developed by Google so that they can
make the payment process easy and convenient for the users. In addition to this Google play
wallet also offers sale promotion coupons that helps while making online transaction. Basically
the aim behind creating the Google play wallet is to develop a virtual wallet that will help the
users for making transactions (Fachrurazi, et al. 2017). Google play wallets are used for the
purpose of having fast, secured and convenient payments. In order to make the transaction
Google play wallet uses near field communication. With the help of this user can easily make the
transaction. The Google play wallet ensures that the process is being divided into different parts
so that they can provide better security towards the transaction process. The steps includes

2Network and Information Security Assignment 2
enrolling the card within the Google play , processing the payment once the card is being
successfully enrolled, user authentication, device authentication and lastly ensuring that proper
data protection is being implemented within the system. This ensures that proper security will be
provided towards the users.
The main security features that are offered with Google Play wallet is that it ensures all
credential data are being encrypted so that it cannot be accessed by any third person. The data
stored within the Google play wallet are in encrypted form that can be only read by computer
chips that are called as secure elements. For the purpose of using Google play wallet there is a
need to have a proper additional PIN so that the NFC chip antenna can be activated. As soon as
the transaction is made by the user the antenna gets turned off. In case the user wishes to make
the transaction again then they must enter the PIN again for having a proper transaction. The
wallet does not allow performing transaction if the correct PIN is not entered by the users
(Fachrurazi, et al. 2017). Thus it can be stated that Google play wallet offers a better security
towards the users and transaction made by the users. The main reason behind choosing this topic
is that Google play wallet has became one of the most convenient way for payment purpose.
Hence it becomes essential to identify the impacts that come along with the use of this wallet.

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About the Google play wallet business model
The Google play wallet business model includes different offers. The offers are basically
divided into today’s offers and nearby offers. This helps the user to redeem the discounted goods
and services that are available in the nearby area. Google play wallet works by adding money
from bank account with help of linking the email or when the user gets a reward. For the purpose
of using Google play wallet it becomes important to have proper access over the bank details.
The privacy concerns that are associated with the wallet include storing the data regarding all the
payment transactions effectively, storing details, and the number of attempts taken by payments.
The privacy policy of Google play wallet ensures that all the data are stored effectively without
any error. The policy ensures that all the credential data associated with a customer will be stored
within the Google and cannot be accessed outside Google.
Challenges faced with security in Google play wallet
While performing a transaction it becomes essential to ensure that proper confidentiality
is maintained throughout the transactions. With the implementations of new technologies several
opportunities has developed for the people in remote areas. The transaction process has become
easy with the enhancement in technology (Wang, Hahn and Sutrave 2016). However there are
several challenges that are faced with the Google play wallet security. The major risks are that
the chances of fraud case increases, trust issue increases and these leads to impacting the
performance of the system. The challenges faced are described below:
Fraud and chargeback: once an application is downloaded from the Google play with
the help of Google play wallet than there are chances that third party is using it for making the

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transactions. This makes the transaction insecure for the user. Thus it becomes essential to ensure
proper guidelines within the system that will help in dealing with these type of fraud issues.
Secondly it has been observed that the case of chargeback increases as people tends to ask for
refund as soon as they feel that the application is not up to their expectation. This can cause huge
loss towards the company.
Card data security: while making a payment the card detail gets stored within the Google
play wallet. In case any data breach occurs within the system than all the data will get lost and
this will eventually impact the performance of the system. This can impact the overall
performance of the system and will eventually lead to hamper the customer satisfaction
(Nwaobiala and Ubor 2016). Thus it becomes essential to implement proper measures that will
help in overcoming the challenges.
Malware impacts: the cyber criminal tends to use these payment methods for infecting
someone’s phone with malware. The malware infection results in destructing all the data that are
stored within the system. Thus it becomes essential for every user to be aware of the activity so
that they can protect themselves from such threats.
Hacking the wallet: recently it has been observed that the Google play wallet of a
number of people got hacked that caused huge loss of money. This became one of the major
challenges faced by Google. By hacking the Google play wallet all credential details became
available towards the users. This lead to impacting the system and caused serious damages.

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Ways to enhance security within Google play wallet
Beside all the risks that are faced by Google play wallet there are several benefits that are
offered with Google play wallet. One of the major benefits that are offered with Google play
wallet is that it enhances the transaction process and makes it easy to perform (Grover et al.
2017). The user needs to be more careful while using these payment modes. The best way to
maintain proper security within the phone is to use two factor authentications. This will ensure
that only authorized person is getting the access over the play wallet. In addition to this as the
data stored within the handset is more vulnerable to malware impacts thus it becomes essential to
ensure proper development of security pillars that will safeguard the payment process from
further impacts. The main pillars that helps in maintaining proper security within the transaction
process includes providing limited use security keys, implementing device fingerprinting,
transaction of the risks analysis on time and tokenization.
Security awareness needs to be done among the users and employees of the Google so
that they can deal with difficult situations. This will ensure that the proper payment process is
being conducted with proper security. The user should always avoid using public wifi for the
purpose of mobile payments (Chauhan and Shingari 2017). This will reduce the chances of data
breach from the mobile. In addition to this the user should maintain proper updated OS so that
the system does not crashes. While making a payment with the use of Google play wallet the
organization needs to adopt secure coding practices so that they can provide better protection
towards the user data.
Merchant needs to have an updated POS server so that they can have updated software
with proper security controls. Merchants needs to be aware of the potential risks so that they can
perform the activity accordingly that will help in managing the activities. The Google play wallet

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needs to have proper secured software development that will help in managing the integrity of
the payment process and will ensure that the risks associated with the system can be minimized
effectively.
Conclusion
Google play wallet has become one of the most convenient ways of managing the money.
This offers better way of performing the transaction with minimum effort. Thus after analyzing
the working of the Google play wallet it can be stated that there is a high need to focus on the
security concern so that the transaction can be done effectively with minimum errors. Effective
transaction with high security will minimize the chances of card detail theft and data breach. the
report has highlighted the major challenges that are faced with Google play wallet and the way in
which this issue can be mitigated.

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References
Chauhan, M. and Shingari, I., 2017. IS Future of e-Wallets: A Perspective From Under
Graduates. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software
Engineering, pp.146-150.
Grover, N., Saxena, J. and Sihag, V., 2017. Security Analysis of OnlineCabBooking Android
Application. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Data Engineering and
Communication Technology (pp. 603-611). Springer, Singapore.
Nwaobiala, C.U. and Ubor, V.U., 2016. Effectiveness of electronic wallet system of growth
enhancement support scheme distribution among arable crop farmers in Imo state, south eastern
Nigeria. Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural
Development, 16(1), pp.355-360.
Wang, Y., Hahn, C. and Sutrave, K., 2016, February. Mobile payment security, threats, and
challenges. In 2016 second international conference on mobile and secure services
(MobiSecServ) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Fachrurazi, I., Prasetyo, W.C. and Satria, A.D., 2017, June. THE ROLES OF GOOGLE GIFT
CARD AND GOOGLE WALLET IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS. In The 3rd PIABC
(Parahyangan International Accounting and Business Conference.