Mastercard Incorporated
Security for contactless transactions

Abstract:

A method of performing a contactless transaction between a payment device and a terminal is described. The method comprises establishing a data connection between the payment device and the terminal and then establishing if the payment device and the terminal both support an enhanced security architecture. If they do not, they will then perform the contactless transaction according to a basic transaction flow using a first cryptographic system. If they do, they will perform the contactless transaction according to an enhanced transaction flow using a second cryptographic system. The first cryptographic system and the second cryptographic system comprise different asymmetric cryptographic systems. Suitable payment devices and terminals, and methods at the payment devices and terminals, are described.