Exploring The EMV Personalization Process

Exploring The EMV Personalization Process

EMV Personalization of a payment card is the process of writing data to the card in order to make it ready for use. This includes loading the card with information such as account numbers, expiration dates, and other customer-specific data. It also refers to the process of loading cryptographic algorithms and keys onto credit cards using hardware or software tools. This ensures all personal data can be safeguarded against theft or misuse.

The Four Corners Model for Card Payment Security and Key Management

The Four Corners Model for Card Payment Security and Key Management

The “Four Corners” model, also called the “Four Party Scheme”, is utilized in almost all standard card payment systems across the globe. Here, we talk about that model and explain what kind of hardware security module (HSM) is needed for each of its components involved in the cryptographic process.

EMV Personalization cryptographic requirements 

EMV Personalization cryptographic requirements 

EMV Personalization is a process used to get card data into cards, mobile phones, and wearables. The process includes a variety of complicated cryptographic tasks and activities, ranging from choosing proper cryptographic algorithms to authentication procedures. Ensuring all these steps are carried out accurately and securely is highly critical for card issuing and payments.

EMV Payment Security - Acquirers

EMV Payment Security - Acquirers

In the “four corner model”, acquirers are apparently the less active party as their role seems ‘only’ to forward the transaction flow originating from the merchant to and from the issuer. In the model, the acquirer is the merchant’s bank.

EMV: The Fraud Bulldozer

EMV: The Fraud Bulldozer

These days everyone has a stake in Chip and PIN security - it can be the topic of the over-the-counter conversation as you pay, of the boardroom executives at a bank, or over a pint at the pub. So how is EMV, the electronic payments standard underlying Chip and PIN shaping up? And what is the modern landscape of payments fraud? Here, Mike Bond, Technical Director at Cryptomathic, shares his opinion.  

EMV Payment Security - Merchants

EMV Payment Security - Merchants

 

Merchants are one of the corners of the ‘four corner’ model in the payment world. In what follows, we will explain some of the security mechanisms for Merchants to prevent unauthorized transactions and payment card fraud.

EMV Payment Security - Issuers

EMV Payment Security - Issuers

An issuer is one of the corners in the ‘four corner’ model. An issuer is a financial organization (e.g. a bank) that produces payment cards and allows the cardholders to use them.

A Brief Overview of the Challenges Involved in Key Management for EMV Personalization: The Main Actors of EMV Personalization

A Brief Overview of the Challenges Involved in Key Management for EMV Personalization: The Main Actors of EMV Personalization

The EMV personalization data processing in itself is not the topic of this article, we will instead focus on the cryptographic schemes involved in EMV personalization, as well as the key management involved; which is both complex and mandatory.

EMV Payment Security - Cardholders

EMV Payment Security - Cardholders

Cardholders (or consumers) are one of the corners of the ‘four corner’ model in the payment card world. Here we take a brief look at the payment security in relation to cardholders.