More and more people rely on mobile devices to conduct transactions and make payments. With the availability of various services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Facebook Messenger Payments, and more, we can quickly complete transactions through our smartphones. While this convenience is a definite advantage, it also attracts cybercriminals aiming to exploit the system’s vulnerabilities. Thus, creating a secure payment process is imperative to protect our sensitive information from unauthorized access. In this blog post, we will discuss why securing mobile payments with multi-factor authentication (MFA) and reviewing governance policies for your data is so beneficial and how it can provide an extra layer of protection in this digital age.
1. MFA: A Combination of Two or More Authentication Methods
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a complex security process that combines two or more authentication methods. This method adds an extra layer of protection for account login or transaction authorization. The three types of authentication factors are:
– Knowledge Factors: Passwords, PINs, answers to security questions
– Possession Factors: A physical device like a phone, security token, or smart card
– Inherence Factors: Using biometric data like fingerprints, voice scans, or facial recognition
For example, when you log in to your banking app, you enter your password (knowledge factor) to initiate the authentication process. You then receive a one-time password (OTP) on your mobile device (possession factor) to confirm your identity. This way, MFA offers additional protection against account breaches, data theft, and identity fraud.
2. Amplified Security for Mobile Payments
Mobile payments have evolved to become a popular and convenient mode of payment. However, transactions done via mobile payment apps pose a higher fraud risk than traditional payment methods. This is because mobile payment apps carry sensitive information, including card details stored in the app, instead of physical cards. MFA can help overcome this security risk issue. With MFA in place, the user needs to verify their identity via two or more security methods, providing added security that can protect users from data breaches, fraud, and cyberattacks.
3. Compliance with Regulatory Standards
Financial institutions must comply with regulatory standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to prevent fraud, protect sensitive data, and secure mobile payments. The PCI DSS, established by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, requires MFA for specific transactions as part of its mandatory regulations. Financial institutions adopting MFA for their mobile payment platforms can ensure that their user’s financial data is secure and compliant with the law.
4. Increased Trust and Confidence in the System
Mobile payments are gaining widespread adoption, which has positively impacted the financial industry’s growth. However, security concerns remain one of the prominent bumps in the utilization of mobile payments. MFA provides increased trust and confidence in the systems used in mobile payment transactions. With this added security feature, users will feel more confident that their sensitive information is safe and secure, increasing the adoption of mobile payments.
5. Future Ready
Technology is rapidly evolving, and so are cybercriminals’ tactics. Today’s security frameworks may not be adequate to combat tomorrow’s threats. MFA provides an additional layer of security that is future-ready. With the unlimited potential of technology and innovation, MFA will likely adapt and be ready to secure the ever-expanding ecosystem of mobile payments.
Conclusion:
We live in a digital age where mobile phone usage has become ubiquitous. Our phones are our most valuable possessions; we use them to conduct almost every aspect of our day-to-day life, including making payments. However, with the advantages come risks, and cybercriminals are continually trying to exploit the many existing vulnerabilities. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can mean the difference between secure transactions and data breaches, identity theft, and cyberattacks. As we have illustrated, MFA is essential in securing mobile payments for the present and the future. It is time that we all make MFA a standard security feature for our financial transactions.
