What to know about 3D Secure authentication

Individuals lost nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022 — a 30% increase from 2021.¹ With significant losses, creating payment safety is top priority. That's where 3D Secure may help.

When it comes to online shopping, a business normally can't verify a customer's identity in person. To help prevent fraudulent transactions and ensure payments are secure, they may use additional safety measures like 3D Secure.

3D Secure authentication is a security protocol that works to help prevent online credit and debit card fraud. This extra verification measure is designed to provide security for buyers and businesses at checkout. Learn more about 3D Secure, how it can work, and why it may be important for digital purchases.

What is 3D Secure authentication?

3D Secure authentication — also known as 3D Secure or 3DS — is a security protocol for validating online card transactions and verifying people’s identities. The “3D" refers to the “three domains" involved in verifying each transaction. These domains include the credit or debit card issuer, the merchant's bank, and the payment platform that processes and verifies the consumer's transaction.

3D Secure has been adopted by many major credit and debit card companies to help streamline and validate e-commerce purchases.

How does 3D Secure work?

Here's a look at how the 3DS payment process can work:

1. A shopper starts the checkout process.
2. They enter their payment details on the checkout page.
3. Before the payment can go through, the site redirects the shopper to their card issuer's 3D security page.
4. The shopper enters the password for their online banking account.
5. The bank sends a one-time passcode to the shopper's phone number or email address, or the shopper is asked to answer a security question.
6. If the shopper's information is correct, the bank will verify the transaction.
7. The shopper is redirected back to the website where they can complete their checkout process.

This whole process may take just a minute or two, helping to verify the person’s identity before the transaction goes through. Online buyers can also use a secure payment app for extra peace of mind when they shop online.

Do users need to activate 3D Secure authentication for online purchases?

Individuals generally don't need to activate 3D Secure authentication for online purchases. Typically, major credit card issuers already have 3D Secure built into their payment processes. Businesses may also take steps to activate 3D Secure on their checkout pages.

If a merchant or card provider uses 3D Secure, people simply have to follow the steps to complete their transactions when shopping online.

What to do if 3D Secure authentication failure occurs

Shoppers may receive a 3D Secure failure message if they don't enter their information correctly. For example, someone may mistype their one-time passcode, enter the wrong card expiration date, or forget their answer to their security question.

If the 3D Secure process is not authenticated, an individual can try it again and correct any errors. Be sure to look out for spelling typos, case sensitivity, and double-check credit card information. If the 3D Secure still fails to go through, they should contact their credit card provider for additional support.

Learn about passkeys to secure account logins.