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What is EMV kernel and their types? How it enhances the security of card-based transactions.
In this article, we'll explain what an EMV kernel is, the different types of EMV kernels and how they enhance the security of card-based transactions.
In today's digital world, the use of card-based transactions has become increasingly prevalent. However, with the rise of these transactions comes the risk of fraud and data breaches. To combat this, the Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) consortium developed a set of global standards for credit and debit card payments known as EMV. One of the core components of the EMV standard is the EMV kernel.
What is the EMV Kernel?
An EMV kernel
is the software component of an EMV transaction that runs on a chip card,
point-of-sale
terminal or other payment device. It is responsible for processing and authenticating
the
transaction data between the chip card and the payment terminal.
The EMV kernel is a key part of the EMV standard and
is critical to the security of card
transactions. It is designed to protect against a range of fraud types, including
counterfeit
cards, lost or stolen cards and skimming attacks.
Types of EMV Kernels
There are various types of EMV kernels that can be used in different types of card transactions. These include
Contact EMV Kernel
Contact EMV
Kernel is used for chip cards that are inserted into a point-of-sale
terminal or ATM.
The chip on the card is physically connected to the terminal and the transaction
data is
exchanged through the chip.
Contactless EMV Kernel
Contactless EMV Kernel is used for contactless payments, where the card
is simply
tapped or waved in front of a payment terminal to initiate the transaction. The
transaction data
is exchanged wirelessly through radio frequency (RF) communication between the
card and the
terminal.
Mobile EMV Kernel
This
type of EMV kernel is used for mobile payments made through a smartphone or
tablet. The
transaction data is stored on the mobile device and is exchanged wirelessly
through an NFC (near
field communication) connection with the payment terminal.
How EMV Kernel Enhances Card-Based Transaction Security
The use of EMV Kernel in card transactions has significantly enhanced security and reduced the risk of fraud. Here are some ways EMV kernel helps to boost security
Chip-based authentication
EMV kernels are designed to authenticate
transactions using a chip on the card. This chip
contains a unique identifier that is used to verify the authenticity of the
card.
Dynamic authentication
EMV kernels generate a unique code for each
transaction, making it difficult for fraudsters to
reuse data from a previous transaction.
Encryption
EMV kernels
use strong encryption algorithms to protect the transaction data from being
intercepted and read by unauthorized parties.
Offline processing
EMV kernels are capable of processing transactions offline, without the need
for an internet
connection. This means that transactions can still be processed even if
there is no network
connection available.