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"CVK"

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Diagram illustrating the Card Verification Key (CVK) concept

Credit Card

What is CVK (Card Verification Key)?

CVK (Card Verification Key) is the key information used to generate and verify CVV/CVC values, confirming their validity. It is kept as a pair of keys, CVK A and CVK B, encrypted under TMK, ZMK or LMK.

Illustration explaining how a card's CVV value is generated

Credit Card

How is CVV generated?

CVV is a very critical 3-digit value used during a card's authorization process. The CVV value is encoded in the card's magnetic stripe data (Track 1 and Track 2). Is it generated by an algorithm or chosen at random?

Diagram explaining how the CVV/CVC code is generated and verified on payment cards

Credit Card

What is CVV/CVC?

CVV is short for Card Verification Value, a term used by Visa. CVC is short for Card Verification Code, a term used by MasterCard. The CVV/CVC code is used for cardholder verification and to reduce fraud risk.

Diagram showing how the iCVV code is generated for EMV chip cards

Credit Card

What Is iCVV? How Is It Generated?

iCVV stands for Integrated Circuit Card Verification Value. To prevent fraud, it is a CVV value generated similarly to the card's track data and stored on the card's chip. Visa uses the term iCVV; MasterCard and American Express use their own equivalents.