No-touch Technology in Hungary: How to Stay Safe

In collaboration

The pandemic changed the way we use technology. The world needed to reduce touchpoints and contact. Many of these changes to no-touch technology are sticking around, as are the risks that come with them. 

The break-neck pace of change forced upon Hungarians has now slowed. It’s time to take into account the risks that come about with new systems. Whether at home or overseas, your online security has never been so important. 

How aware are you of data security? 

Do you know how to protect your personal information in an age of no-touch technology? 

Here, we explore what’s changed and what you need to do about it. 

What is no-touch technology?

No-touch technology is in its infancy. It encompasses a range of tools that mean you don’t need to make contact with devices to control or interact with them. 

This might be controlling your phone with hand gestures, like swiping the screen to take a screenshot. It can also relate to the no-touch technology like contactless payments and QR code scans that have become so necessary during the pandemic. 

What’s risky about it?

The risk with no-touch tech comes through the internet connection it uses. Your device, filled with your personal and payment information, interacts with other devices and websites more often, leaving it exposed. 

You may also be easily tempted to use public Wi-Fi to reduce your data charges, such as when you’re ordering in a restaurant. It’s possible to mitigate the risks of using no-touch tech on your mobile device with tools like Surfshark VPN. You add a layer of security to your internet connection and protect the information stored on your phone. 

Interacting with no-touch technology

In Hungary, contactless payments have been around for years and are already highly adopted. Indeed, around 98% of all card payment terminals in the country are now able to accept contactless payments. 

This swing towards contactless started well before the pandemic – there has been a steady increase over the last decade.

Image source: Ingenico

Overseas, the trend isn’t so strong. Outside of Europe, contactless payments are less common although PwC predicts that cashless payments will increase by 80% in 2025. 

Trips overseas should see you be even more cautious with payment security. A VPN for ApplePay and GooglePay transactions and a wallet that blocks Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) are both essential items. This will prevent criminals from scanning your card’s details in crowded places.