Two-factor authentication system is used in almost all social media platforms today. Thanks to this system, even if a malicious person knows your e-mail address and password, they cannot log into your account. The 3D Secure system provides exactly such a service, but the only difference is that it provides this security in case of doubtful or high amount of expenses during your online spending.
Since the history of e-commerce fraud is as old as e-commerce, banks and credit card companies have been using 3D Secure and similar security infrastructures for a long time. Thanks to this infrastructure, even a malicious person with all your credit or debit card information cannot easily spend online. Let’s take a closer look at what 3D Secure is, how it works, and see the details you need to know about this security system.
What is 3D Secure?
3D Secure; It is a system that provides an additional layer of security to the transactions you make using a credit or debit card during your online shopping. 3D Secure, an XML-based platform, was developed by a company called CA Technologies today.
The 3D Secure system developed by CA Technologies was first used by Visa as Verified by Visa. It was later used as MasterCard SecureCode by Mastercard and as J/Secure by JC International. Although it has different names, the basic name of the system used by all these companies and banks is 3D Secure.
What does 3D Secure do?
You can think of the 3D Secure system as two-factor authentication found on social media platforms. Because 3D Secure; It is an identity verification system used to prove that you have made the expenditures you have made using a credit or debit card on online shopping sites.
Let’s think like this; you lost your credit card or an incompetent platform that you gave your credit card information had this information stolen. The person who seized your credit card information immediately went to convert this information into money and wanted to buy a new iPhone. Of course he couldn’t because the 3D Secure system required authentication for such a big expense.
How does 3D Secure work?
3D Secure basically authenticates you with a code sent via SMS to your mobile phone number registered in your bank account or credit card account. Thanks to this code, which is mostly 6 digits, it is proved that the cardholder made the purchase himself or was aware of this expenditure.
Some companies that use 3D Secure always give their users a PIN that they can use before this process. However, in the widely used system, a code that is valid only once and for a certain period of time is sent to the user’s mobile phone. The one-time confirmation code increases system security.
How to use 3D Secure?
Whether or not to use 3D Secure is left to the discretion of the cardholders. You can activate the 3D Secure system through internet banking and mobile banking or by calling your bank. If you see an expression such as ‘Use 3D Secure’ on the payment screen during shopping, you must confirm and pay.
Note that the 3D Secure system does not always work, especially on platforms where your card information is registered. 3D Secure is used in doubtful situations or when the amount of spending is higher than usual. E.g; It may be considered suspicious if you repeatedly spend online.
Advantages of using 3D Secure:
You cannot be scammed. This is the biggest advantage of the 3D Secure system. Because we know that nothing is guaranteed in the digital world. For this reason, it is always risky to provide credit or debit card information to a platform, no matter how reliable it is. Thanks to the 3D Secure system, you will at least be aware of such a situation.
In addition to the theft of your digital data, 3D Secure is a great measure for theft that you may experience in real life. Real POS devices require a password to use the cards, but online shopping does not require a password. For this reason, thieves often evaluate stolen cards by spending online.
The 3D Secure system is also valid for additional cards and virtual cards used in conjunction with the main cards. In other words, it is one of the advantages of the 3D Secure system to prevent terrible expenses from the card you give to your child or spouse.
Does the 3D Secure system have disadvantages?
It is not possible to talk about any disadvantages for credit and debit card users and banks, but online shopping sites and other online sellers have some objections to 3D Secure and similar systems. They say that methods that slow down such payment turn the user off from shopping.
They may be right. Most of the online shopping is done in the evening, that is, when we are bored and unhappy. Just in case, when we have to buy that product with one touch, entering the 6-digit password for a long time may cause us to change our decision. Since we know what will happen to us if we do not use 3D Secure, this disadvantage can be seen as the difference between the sheep and the butcher’s problem.
Is 3D Secure hackable?
The 3D Secure system cannot be hacked. Because there is a simple operating principle; the bank sends a code to the mobile phone number registered to the credit card. However, the system of the bank or credit card provider company can be hacked. Worse still, your information can be intercepted and changed.
For example; When many of your personal data, including your bank and credit card information, are stolen, thieves can enter the system and change your mobile phone number registered in the 3D Secure system. Likewise, this information can be changed as a result of a cyber attack on the bank system. Such an action can also be taken if your physical card is stolen.
Considering all these possibilities, the first precaution you can take is not to share your information with the platform in front of you. Another effective measure is to use a virtual card. When your physical card is stolen, call your bank and cancel the card as soon as possible. Make sure that the site uses 3D Secure for online purchases. So the system is safe, but the environment is not very secure.
We answered the questions that make your online shopping much safer, what is 3D Secure, how does it work, what are the advantages, and we talked about the details you need to know about this system. You can share your thoughts about the 3D Secure system in the comments.