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Bitcoin coin symbol illustrating the first cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a digital currency launched experimentally in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. It has no ties to any central bank, can be bought and sold with national currencies and can be transferred without any intermediary.

Diagram illustrating a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) architecture

HSM & Security

What is TEE (Trusted Execution Environment)?

A Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) is an environment where executed code and accessed data are isolated and protected in terms of confidentiality (no one has access to the data) and integrity (no one can alter the code or its behavior). We may not realize it, but many…

Photo of a Pin Entry Device (PIN pad) used for card payments

Merchant & POS

What is a Pin Entry Device (PED)?

Pin Entry Device is another name for the PIN pad device we all know and use daily. It makes it easier for users to enter their card PIN during POS transactions with credit or debit cards, and is used for contactless card reading...

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.

Diagram illustrating the PIN Change/Unblock command process

EMV

What Is Pin Change/Unblock?

The Pin Change/Unblock command is used after card issuance to let the issuer remove a card's PIN block, or instantly change the reference PIN and remove its block, as well.

Illustration showing how an Application Identifier (AID) is used in a chip card transaction

EMV

What is an Application Identifier (AID)?

The AID tells the terminal which applications are present on a chip during a POS or ATM transaction. What does the AID do? It lets the terminal determine whether it supports an application on the chip. In Tag 9F06, it is 5-16 digits long.

Diagram illustrating the Local Master Key (LMK) concept in an HSM

HSM & Security

LMK (Local Master Key)

LMK stands for Local Master Key. The Local Master Key (LMK) is the HSM's master key, and all other keys used by the institution are secured under this key. As transaction volume increases, banks often use multiple HSMs to reduce the load on each device.

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 showing how a Zone Master Key (ZMK) is used to transport encryption keys between HSMs

HSM & Security

What is a ZMK (Zone Master Key)?

ZMK is short for Zone Master Key. It is the key used to transport a key from one environment to another. In short, we can say ZMK is the main transport vehicle. The key that two parties use to encrypt and exchange new ZPKs is the ZMK.

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.

Diagram illustrating the stages a credit card goes through from application to delivery

Credit Card

What stages does a credit card go through before reaching the customer?

Credit cards are undoubtedly the most important payment tool for most of us when shopping. So what stages does a credit card or debit card go through before it reaches our pocket? The customer submits a card application request, and the process continues from there.