Social media giant Facebook recently launched its payment service in the U.S., after months of teasing the program. With this service, users can now send and receive payment through Messenger, using smartphones linked to a bank account.

Facebook head of messaging David Marcus announced the launch in a post, expressing his excitement over the program, which allows user to "pay anyone on Messenger in a few taps." Marcus explained that the money will be wired from the sender's checking account directly to the recipient's.

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To use this function, Facebook users need only to tap the $ icon on Messenger, enter the amount of money they want wired, and enter their own debit card number, and tap pay. On the receiving end, users have only to enter their card number for the transaction to be completed. There is an "Add Card" button available if the smartphone isn't connected to any debit card just yet.

As with any web-based application that deals with money transfer, many feel that security is of utmost importance. So how secure is Facebook's Messenger money transfer system?

The company itself explained that "Incorporating security best practices into our payments business has always been a top priority." To this end, they have added secure systems full of layers upon layers of encryption to make sure that the connection between the sender and the receiver cannot be breached. Facebook also claims that the data gathered by this payment system will be kept in a secure environment that receive optimum monitoring. They have also reportedly employed a team of anti-fraud specialists to monitor suspicious purchase activity.

Despite this, though, it is evident that the tech company isn't exactly the best vanguard of tech security. Earlier this year, the Belgian Privacy Commission held that Facebook might in fact be breaking European Union law with its "insufficient" information security protocols.

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to trust Facebook's money transfer system falls on the user. In any case, practically everyone can agree on the convenience that this feature brings, especially when the only other options for payment are either inefficient or not cost-efficient enough for the time and effort.

Tagsmoney transfer, messenger