Not too long ago, Sony admitted that their Playstation Network was, indeed, hacked. Their members were heavily urged to change their password to aleviate any chances of their account being infiltrated since they had to provide contact information and (more importantly) credit card information when enrolling. These hackers can not only steal vital information but render a handful of features on the Playstation (playing online games, using netflix, software udpates, etc) useless.

Well, with phones evolving with media players, GPS's, and now the integration of NFC (Near Field Communication), the devils advocate in me can't help but make a cameo. Hearing how your credit card can be scanned through your wallet (video below) can be a bit of a chilling, paranoia-inducing thought, no? Think about how many times you've heard a friend or co-worker that had to get a new card because someone stole the numbers while paying the bill at a restaurant or shopping online. Since its origin in the early 1960s and many advancements later, people are still being able to steal credit card numbers.

What defenses can we look forward to in this newer, easier, faster advancement of mobile commerce? With the avenues that we're connected to with our phone (WiFi, 4G Networks, Bluetooth, Facetime/Tango, etc) while letting the world know where we are at all times (Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, etc); is this a recipe for hackers to use as a backdoor into our personal information?

Maybe my cautious skepticism is no different from the many back in the 60's who thought credit cards were a dangerous step in exchange for easier shopping. Other than having a bank that will reimburse you for stolen cash, what tech advancements could help? Could there be:

• Cases that could shield/lower the range hackers need to connect?
• Detection software on the phone that would put up a firewall or lock the phone temporarily?
• Detection software at store entrances that would detect illegal scanners (the same security detectors that shoplifters set off)?

Not only do we have to worry about other people stealing our cash and identity, but we also have to acknowledge that we have to beware of our own spending activity. Would you be more inclined to shop knowing its that much easier? If we're making technology that makes it easier to spend, wouldn't we be placing ourselves even closer to debt?  Some find it beneficial to get rid of cards entirely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very intrigued by all this and could very well be inclined to try it first hand. However with the introduction of any new platform, software or hardware - there are going to be bugs and kinks to work out - and when it deals with your hard-earned money, are you willing to take that chance?

You might have already heard that Japan has already utilized these mobile wallets and has grown in popularity with its introduction back in 2005. However did you know who's been providing the standard technology used for these wallets?

- Spoiler Alert -

Sony.

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue