Technology expert Juan Guevara explains the security technology behind Maryland’s new EBT cards for SNAP recipients, which incorporate EMV chip and contactless payment capabilities as part of an effort to reduce fraud and better protect beneficiaries.

Traditional magnetic-stripe cards can be vulnerable to techniques such as skimming, in which criminals attempt to capture card information. Modern chip-based payment systems provide additional safeguards by using dynamic transaction data rather than relying exclusively on static card information.

Contactless payments add another convenient method of completing transactions while incorporating security mechanisms designed to make intercepted transaction information significantly less useful for subsequent unauthorized purchases.

For SNAP recipients, the transition also requires action. Beneficiaries should activate their replacement cards according to Maryland's instructions and before the announced deadline to avoid disruptions. Cardholders should also protect their PIN, never provide card information to unknown individuals, and remain alert for suspicious messages or requests involving their benefits.