3D Secure/Verified by Visa/SecureCode: What is it?

Since October 2008, banks and online merchants have begun to adopt the 3DSecure system for Internet payments.

What's this?

3DSecure is called "Verified by Visa" by Visa, and "MasterCard SecureCode" at MasterCard.


This system was invented to avoid fraud schemes NOC (No Card Present), that is to say the fraudulent payments by credit card with no real presence of the card (card numbers were stolen, for example).

The goal is:
reduce fraud for merchants.
secure payment from customers.

Why visual cryptogram does not suffice

A payment card on the internet generally requires:

• The card number
• The expiry date
• The visual cryptogram

The visual cryptogram, are the 3 numbers on the back of your card usually requires that you enter when making a purchase online.
But this information can be read visually on the card and copied, allowing payment without the presence of the card, and therefore the fraud.
With 3DSecure, additional information will be requested to confirm the payment.
Someone who copied the information from your card will not be able to make purchases when using 3DSecure because he does not know these information.

Implemention

For a payment to be 3DSecure mode, you must have a 3DSecure card and the merchant support 3DSecure.
Almost all credit cards newly manufactured have 3DSecure.
For the old cards,switching 3DSecure may be automatic, or you will be asked to sign an addendum to your contract. In all cases, it requires no change of card or change your existing card.
The transition to 3DSecure should normally cost you nothing.