Is Samsung Pay Safe? Security Review
4/5
Overall Safety Score
★
★
★
★
★
Verdict: Samsung Pay offers robust security through Knox and tokenization. MST compatibility is a unique advantage. Privacy practices are standard for a large tech company but not industry-leading.
Samsung Pay is Samsung's mobile payment platform that uniquely supports both NFC and Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), allowing it to work at nearly any card terminal. It runs on Samsung's Knox security platform.
Security Ratings Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | 4/5 | |
| Privacy | 3/5 | |
| Track Record | 4/5 |
Security Features
- Samsung Knox hardware-backed security
- Tokenization for all card transactions
- Biometric authentication (fingerprint, iris)
- MST and NFC dual support
- Device-level encryption of payment credentials
- Remote wipe via Find My Mobile
Privacy Concerns
- Samsung collects device and usage data
- Transaction data used for personalized offers and rewards
- Tied to Samsung account ecosystem
- Third-party rewards partners may receive purchase data
Past Security Incidents
- In 2016, Samsung Pay's tokenization provider LoopPay suffered a network breach by Chinese hackers, though Samsung stated the payment token system was not compromised
- No major direct breaches of Samsung Pay itself as of 2025
How to Stay Safe Using Samsung Pay
- Enable biometric lock for all transactions
- Keep Samsung Knox and device firmware updated
- Use Find My Mobile for remote wipe if device is lost
- Review Samsung Pay transaction history regularly
Safer Alternatives
- Apple Pay (iOS ecosystem)
- Google Pay (cross-device Android support)
Last updated: February 10, 2026