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"PIN encryption"

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Diagram of HSM use case areas in security and payment systems

HSM & Security

What Is an HSM? What Is It Used For?

HSM, short for Hardware Security Module, is specialized security hardware built to store sensitive cryptographic keys in a physical environment and to perform cryptographic operations in the most secure way.

Illustration representing PIN Transaction Security (PTS) certified payment devices

Merchant & POS

What is PIN Transaction Security (PTS)?

PIN Transaction Security (PTS) verifies that card data and PIN information are used for a payment transaction. It is a set of modular evaluation requirements managed by the PCI Security Standards Council for PIN-accepting terminals.

Old mechanical credit card imprinter machine used to transfer embossed card details onto a sales slip

Merchant & POS

What Is an Imprinter?

An imprinter is the name given to devices that transfer all the information embossed on a credit card onto a paper sales receipt. Before POS terminals, it was commonly used by merchants for authorization transactions.

Diagram illustrating the structure of Track3 data on a payment card

Credit Card

What Is Track3?

Track3 is a field that doesn't need to be written to the card's magnetic stripe. It's used only in very specific cases and isn't required for authorization transactions. Issuers generally don't encode Track3 data onto the card's magnetic stripe. It consists of 104 numeric characters.

Diagram explaining PVKI and PVV calculation in card PIN verification

Credit Card

What Is PVKI (PIN Verification Key Index)?

PVKI is the abbreviation for PIN Verification Key Index. It is located within the card's Track 1 and Track 2 data and is used in PVV calculation. It can take values from 1 to 6, usually defaulting to 1.

Payment card illustrating magnetic stripe data used for PIN verification

Credit Card

What is PVV (PIN Verification Value)?

PVV is the number encoded on a card's magnetic stripe that allows the cardholder's PIN to be verified by ATMs and POS terminals. It is a 4-digit cryptogram calculated through a cryptographic operation using the PIN and card data. The real result is longer than 4 digits.

Illustration depicting digital POS payment terminals

Merchant & POS

What is Digital POS?

The digital form of Point of Sale (POS) systems is called Digital POS. There is also a software-only subtype called Virtual POS. After Mobile POS (mPOS) and Virtual POS usage became widespread, the term digital POS came to refer to these two products.

ATM machine with cash dispenser and receipt printer

ATM

What Is an ATM?

ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine, an electronic device that lets customers carry out account transactions with or without a card. It was invented in 1960 by John Shepherd-Barron. The first ATM in Turkey was installed in 1982.

Illustration representing the PIN Verification Key (PVK) concept in HSM security

Credit Card

What is PVK (Pin Verification Key)?

PVK (Pin Verification Key) is a key held on the HSM, used in PIN generation and verification, and therefore to confirm that a PIN is correct. On a shared network it is encrypted under TMK or ZMK; on a local network it is encrypted under one of the LMK pairs.

Diagram of the TR QR Code payment flow between cardholder, issuer, BKM and acquirer

Payment Systems

Why Am I Getting an Error When I Try to Pay with a TR QR Code?

In payment or cash withdrawal transactions, the TR QR Code is generated by the POS or ATM. The card issuing bank must build its systems to read and act on this code. Errors usually stem from mishandling the long and short QR code flows, which are explained here.

Example of a POS transaction receipt (slip)

Merchant & POS

Don't Dismiss the POS Receipt

In daily credit card purchases, the POS produces two receipts: the Customer Copy and the Merchant Copy. The cardholder gets the customer copy; the merchant keeps its own copy by law.