On September 14, the European Directive PSD2 will finally be implemented , which, as we have explained, will open the doors to the digital transformation of the banking world. One of the most interesting aspects of the directive is the adoption of the SCA, the Strong Customer Authentication for online payments by credit card, with the aim of ensuring greater transaction security and at the same time making the purchasing experience more immediate. Let's see what will change specifically for Mastercard card holders.

How MasterCard ID Check works 
Mastercard ID Check is the Mastercard authentication program which aims to increase the security of online payments, those where the risk of fraud is greatest, and at the same time simplify the life of users. It is based on the EMV 3DS standard and the combination of login and password adds two-factor authentication. 

To ensure that a user is authorized to make purchases, the system  is based on biometric recognition , so it requires a fingerprint or a face scan to "unlock" the transaction. In particular cases it will be possible to use an alternative method, based on the classic OTP code sent via SMS to the user's mobile phone. So far nothing strange, to be honest: there are already some payment solutions that rely on these criteria, just think of Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. The real revolution takes place behind the scenes, almost invisible to the eyes of those who make a purchase. At each request for payment authorization the system will verify a series of data using machine learning algorithmswhich will allow the system to check for anomalous behavior and possibly block it. The geographical position, the time and the shop itself are some of the parameters that will be analyzed to determine if it is a legitimate request or if further checks are required to recognize the user. 

Increasingly simple and secure purchases
The Mastercard solution works at the infrastructure level. It will therefore not be necessary to change your card to access the new features that will be available through the dedicated Mastercard app or that of your banking institution. Among the features of the Mastercard app worth mentioning is the possibility of imposing a monthly expenditure cap , notifying the screen of each transaction and inserting a series of merchants in whitelist , so as to signal to the system that they are considered reliable. Through the app you can activate / deactivate the card (useful if it is subtracted) and enable the use in the various geographical areas, so as to reduce the risk of fraud. THE' Mastercard Automatic Billing Updater which will automatically update the card data on all the sites where it is used. A function that will come in handy for recurring payments, for example those of telephone utilities, since it will no longer be necessary to change the payment data on each individual payment platform.

"Electronic commerce continues to grow compared to physical purchases and it is necessary to guarantee ever safer and uninterrupted transactions " - commented Michele Centemero, Mastercard Italy Country Manager - " Mastercard has developed and invested in technologies such as biometrics and artificial intelligence to make more efficient the approval of transactions and to improve the consumer experience Thanks to our experience and leadership in the field of payment technologies we are at the side of our partners to guarantee an increasingly brilliant future of payments, in Italy and in the world ".