Most credit and debit card numbers are a sequence of 16 digits, with the final number in the sequence being a “checksum” or calculated number that was once useful for verifying that a provided card number was legitimate . Card numbers can easily be stolen in many ways, including obtaining lists of numbers issued by people working in the industry, hijacking databases, or even hijacking websites and intercepting data.
A technique to reduce the misuse of card numbers entered on websites was developed several years ago. “Virtual cards” were intended to bring the benefits of the Internet to card numbers, allowing you to use an app or website associated with your credit card to generate a unique card number on the fly. Each number would have its own expiration date and security code, and in many cases you could set how many times it could be used or set a maximum monthly or permanent spending limit. These have mostly disappeared, especially with the introduction of Apple Pay, Google Pay and other online systems in which the actual card number no longer has to be transmitted.
However, there are still many sites online that are not integrated with Apple Pay or other systems. As a result, Apple introduced a virtual card option for Apple Cash only (not Apple Card) with the release of iOS 17.4. You need to enable the feature, after which it can be used manually via the Wallet app or automatically via Safari AutoFill, which is separate from Apple Pay:
- Apple Pay relies on the cards and accounts you add and validate.
- Safari AutoFill for payment cards typically requires you to enter static information for a physical card.
Activate a virtual card number for your Apple Cash account
To activate a virtual card number on your iPhone with an active Apple Cash account, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Wallet and Apple Pay > Apple Cash.
- Faucet Map information.
- Faucet Configure virtual card number.
- Faucet Continue.
- When the process is completed, which no longer requires interaction, the number added with a green check mark appears. Faucet Do.
Setting up a virtual card number requires little effort: just a click and a confirmation.
Setting up a virtual card number requires little effort: just a click and a confirmation.
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Setting up a virtual card number requires little effort: just a click and a confirmation.
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Foundry
When you return to that location, iOS automatically populates the Virtual Card Number section with the necessary items.
Manually use a virtual card number
Return to Settings > Wallet and Apple Pay > Apple Cash and press Map information. You now see an input box marked Virtual Card Number. It lists a card, its expiration, security code, and network.
The Virtual Card Number area provides all the details needed for manual payment, plus some additional security code details.
The Virtual Card Number area provides all the details needed for manual payment, plus some additional security code details.
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The Virtual Card Number area provides all the details needed for manual payment, plus some additional security code details.
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Foundry
You can tap any field and then tap Copy to put the number on the card. With the Universal Clipboard available through Continuity, you can then paste any of these numbers onto any device nearby and signed into the same Apple ID account.
Notice that there is a clock surrounded by arrows next to the security code. Apple updates the security code frequently:
- Every time you open Wallet
- Every time you use the virtual card number via Safari AutoFill
- After 24 hours
This prevents the usefulness of the card and its number from being used after a short period of time. Additionally, Wallet times out the card information screen, returning you to the main Apple Cash view, which means you cannot leave the virtual card number information displayed indefinitely, which will result in a new security code the next time you press to reveal the number. .
If you think your virtual number has been used (or, more accurately, reused) illegitimately, you can tap Request a new card number and Wallet will create a new one. The same option is available for an Apple Card, but it’s apparently more likely that you’ll need to update the number on merchant accounts, unlike Apple Cash, which is less frequently used this way.
Use a virtual card via Safari AutoFill
You can use an Apple Cash virtual number anywhere you can use Safari’s AutoFill feature. I used a website designed to let you test filling out card information in a form, and Safari showed Apple Cash as an option alongside my Apple Card and other credit cards set up in Settings > Safari > Automatic filling > Credit cards on file. (An Apple Card and Apple Cash are automatically available for AutoFill and cannot be removed in this Settings location.)
AutoFill in Safari lets you deposit an Apple Cash number as easily as any credit card. Using it immediately regenerates the security code.
AutoFill in Safari lets you deposit an Apple Cash number as easily as any credit card. Using it immediately regenerates the security code.
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AutoFill in Safari lets you deposit an Apple Cash number as easily as any credit card. Using it immediately regenerates the security code.
Foundry
Foundry
Tap the Apple Cash icon and the current virtual card number, expiration date and security code will be populated. If there is a prompt on the page for payment network, Safari will choose Visa, which appears to be the only network used for Apple. Species.
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