Google announced today that its Chrome browser will now offer users the ability to use virtual credit card numbers in online payment forms on the web. These virtual card numbers allow users to keep their “real” credit card numbers safe when buying things online, as they can be easily revoked if a merchant’s systems are hacked. Some credit card issuers have offered these virtual credit card numbers before, but they may be far from mainstream.
These virtual cards will be available in the US later this summer, Google said. Google is working with both card issuers like Capital One, which is a launch partner for the feature, and major card organizations like Visa and American Express, and these networks will be supported at launch and will be available to Mastercard later this year Card support will be introduced. Getting support from a network of card organizations is definitely a multiplier, as trying to get every card issuer onboard would be a daunting task.
The new feature will roll out first to Chrome on the desktop and Android, with iOS support coming later. “This is a milestone step in bringing the security of virtual cards to as many consumers as possible,” said Arnold Goldberg, vice president and general manager of payments at Google. Shopping using Chrome on desktop and Android Consumers can enjoy a fast checkout experience when shopping online while having the peace of mind knowing that their payment information is protected.”
From the user’s perspective, this new autofill option will simply enter the virtual card details for you, including the CVV of the physical card, then you can manage the virtual card and see your transactions at pay.google.com record. While these virtual cards are typically used for one-time purchases, they can also be used for subscriptions.
Since it’s a company like Google providing this service, some users are obviously concerned that the company uses this additional data about buying habits, but Google says it doesn’t use this information for ad targeting purposes.