The Slow Adoption of the EMV Chip

The Slow Adoption of the EMV Chip

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Mar 29, 2016

The adoption of EMV chipped credit and debit cards was a big deal… until it wasn’t anymore.

Based on CardHub’s 2016 EMV Adoption Survey, retailers have made it their mission to put off the change in payment terminals for as long as possible and it seems that customers really don’t care if they do or if they don’t.

While retailers and customers are lagging on the adoption process, financial institutions have done what they can to make the cards more secure. The October 1, 2015 deadline, set by Visa and MasterCard for the transition away from magnetic-stripe card security, was met by the majority of banks and financial institutions while, six months later, 42 percent of retailers still haven’t changed over their payment methods. And of the retailers that saw a data breach in recent history, only 43 percent of them have updated their terminals.

It seems that the retailers are slow to move because the customers really don’t care, and at times, show favor for the magnetic stripe version of payment. 56 percent of people don’t care if a retailer’s payment terminal is chip-enabled and another 41 percent don’t even know if their current card has a smart-chip in it. Of all those people, only 38 percent understand why the chip is even necessary to secure their financial data.

Perhaps the most overwhelming finding in the survey is that 41 percent of people falsely believe that their debit cards protect them from fraud better than credit cards.

In the detailed findings of the survey, CardHub found that WalMart, Target, The Home Depot, Walgreens, CVS, Best Buy, Macy’s, Rite Aid, Gap and more have adopted the EMV chip-enabled payment machines while stores like Alberstons, Pizza Hut, J.C. Penny, Bed Bath & Beyond, Family Dollar and Staples haven’t changed not one of their payment terminals.

Some stores like, Jimmy John’s and Dairy Queen are at a high percentage of chip-enabled terminals, but have not yet placed the new devices in all their stores.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.