Pacific Automotive Network ETC is safe. ETC is plugged into an ETC special card. This card can only communicate with the devices in the authorization list, such as ETC equipment at high-speed entrances and exits. Handheld devices cannot be traded, and the possibility of moving an ETC device to steal money is so small that it can basically be ignored.

ETC is plugged into an IC credit card/debit card that has not been opened for small-amount payments and requires no password. You need to enter a password during transactions. Unless the password is leaked, it is safe. Or if you insert an IC credit card/debit card that enables small-amount payments without a password, you can just swipe it casually. It can only be canceled without password, or plugged in and unplugged when not in use.

Generally, we need to conduct specific analysis on different types of ETC cards. There are currently three types of ETC products on the market. One is the single-purpose ETC card issued by the traffic control department itself. It does not have financial functions and is of course incompatible with the banking system, so it will not be easily used by bank general-purpose POS machines. You can make money by brushing it.

The second one is jointly issued by the traffic control department and the bank. The customer still only has a single-purpose ETC card for the transportation industry, which is then bound to his or her bank debit card (actually a savings card). Therefore, the ETC card used in the car also does not have financial functions, so it cannot be easily swiped at a bank's general POS machine to withdraw money.

The third type is called "co-branded card", which is a two-in-one card jointly issued by the traffic control department and the bank. It usually has a "quick pass" function. If you activate the "small amount password-free and visa-free" function for this kind of card, it means that you can make direct transactions without a password for a single consumption of less than 300 yuan. Therefore, this kind of card has certain financial risks. Of course, if you have not activated the "small amount password-free and visa-free" function, then naturally you don't have to worry about being swiped.

(Pictures/Text/Photos: Li Yuanli of Pacific Automotive Network)