Chip Authentication Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:19, 18 March 2014

Revision as of 19:08, 26 June 2014

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[[image:Barclays pinsentry.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Gemalto EZIO CAP device with Barclays PINSentry styling]]

The '''Chip Authentication Program''' (CAP) is a [[MasterCard]] initiative and technical specification for using [[EMV]] banking [[smartcards]] for [[authentication|authenticating]] users and transactions in online and telephone banking. It was also adopted by [[Visa (company)|Visa]] as '''Dynamic Passcode Authentication''' (DPA).<ref>[http://www.visaeurope.com/aboutvisa/products/dynamicpasscode.jsp Dynamic passcode authentication], VISA Europe</ref> The CAP specification defines a handheld device (''CAP reader'') with a smartcard slot, a decimalnumeric keypad, and a display capable of displaying at least 12 characters (e.g., a [[starburst display]]). Banking customers who have been issued a CAP reader by their bank can insert their [[Chip and PIN]] ([[EMV]]) card into the CAP reader in order to participate in one of several supported [[authentication protocol]]s. CAP is a form of [[two-factor authentication]] as both a smartcard and a valid PIN must be present for a transaction to succeed. Banks hope that the system will reduce the risk of unsuspecting customers entering their details into fraudulent websites after reading so-called [[phishing]] emails.<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/18/pinsentry/</ref>

==Operating principle==