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Publications – Security – Contactless Payments Security

• Contactless Payments: Frequently Asked Questions
  This document answers frequently-asked questions about contactless payments. Questions and answers include information about the market, contactless payment operation, signature waiver programs, merchant benefits and implementation, contactless payments security, form factors and card cost, future capabilities, and compliance with the EMV specification. Download FAQ. View full executive summary.

• Contactless Payments Security Questions & Answers
  This document was developed by the Smart Card Alliance to address questions raised by the media about the security of contactless payment transactions and the risk of fraud to consumers. Download Q&A. View full Q&A.

• EMV Chip Cards Expected for Upscale U.S. Cardholders
  The Smart Card Alliance developed this statement to comment on The Nilson Report prediction that most top U.S. issuers will have EMV-compliant [2] chip cards available to select customers by the end of 2010 and to recommend a course of action for issuers. Download statement. View statement.

• End-to-End Encryption and Chip Cards in the U.S. Payments Industry
  The Smart Card Alliance developed this position paper to present Smart Card Alliance perspectives on end-to-end encryption and to discuss how chip cards and dynamic cryptograms address card-based fraud. Download position paper. View position paper.

• ePassport Frequently Asked Questions
  The new electronic passports (ePassports) include digital and physical security technologies that are integrated together to provide significantly higher levels of security. ePassports use advanced technologies that secure identities and new processes throughout the entire chain of trust – from manufacturing to use of the ePassport. This frequently asked questions (FAQ) document was developed by the Smart Card Alliance Identity Council to answer questions about how the ePassport works and what technology is used to protect an ePassport holder’s personal information. Download FAQ. View document.

• Fraud in the U.S. Payments Industry: Fraud Mitigation and Prevention Measures in Use and Chip Card Technology Impact on Fraud.
  The Smart Card Alliance developed this white paper to discuss how changes to the U.S. and global payments infrastructure are expected to affect card-based fraud in the United States and how different technologies can address this fraud. The different approaches used by the U.S. payments industry to combat fraud are described, including both preventative measures and mitigating measures. The white paper also examines the opportunity presented by new technologies and processes, particularly chip card-based technologies and processes, to help mitigate card-based fraud losses. Download white paper. View executive summary.

• Security of Proximity Mobile Payments.
  This white paper was developed to provide an overview of the ecosystem of proximity mobile payments. It introduces the stakeholders in the mobile payment ecosystem and describes their roles and responsibilities in assuring the security of sensitive data. It explains how the payment application, consumer credentials and consumer account information are securely delivered to, loaded on and stored in a mobile device. It explains how a mobile device transmits data to a merchant at the point of sale, identifies risks present during the lifecycle of the payment device, and suggests countermeasures. It also identifies industry standards and certifications organization organizations that address this ecosystem. Download white paper. View executive summary.

• What Makes a Smart Card Secure?
  This white paper was developed by the Smart Card Alliance Payments Council Security Work Group to provide an overview of the security features available with contactless and contact smart cards and describe how the security features might apply or be important to different applications. Download report. View full executive summary.