What Does “Retry With 3DS” Mean for Online Payments?
Unravel the "Retry with 3DS" prompt during online payments. Understand its role in securing your transactions and how to proceed confidently.
When making online purchases, many people have encountered the message “retry with 3DS.” This prompt can sometimes cause confusion, but it is a standard security measure designed to protect online transactions. This article will clarify what this message signifies and guide you through understanding and resolving it, ensuring a smoother and more secure online shopping experience.
What 3D Secure Is
3D Secure, often abbreviated as 3DS, is a security protocol that adds an extra layer of protection for online credit and debit card transactions. It serves as a global authentication standard, now widely adopted by major card networks like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. This technology helps verify the cardholder’s identity when making purchases where the physical card is not present.
The protocol has evolved from its original version, 3D Secure 1.0, to the more advanced 3D Secure 2.0 (3DS2). While the initial version often relied on static passwords, 3DS2 introduces a “frictionless flow” and supports a broader range of authentication methods. This evolution aims to enhance both security and the user experience by leveraging more data points for risk assessment.
The “Retry with 3DS” Process
When you encounter a “retry with 3DS” message, it indicates that your card issuer requires additional verification to complete the transaction. This typically initiates a redirection process, where your browser is momentarily sent to a secure authentication page hosted by your card issuer. This step ensures that the legitimate cardholder is authorizing the payment, not an unauthorized individual.
On the issuer’s authentication page, you will be prompted to verify your identity using various methods. Common authentication approaches include entering a one-time password (OTP) sent to your registered mobile phone via SMS, approving the transaction through your banking application, or using biometric data such as a fingerprint or face scan. In some instances, you might be asked to provide a pre-set password or answer a security question. After successfully completing this verification, you will be redirected back to the merchant’s website to finalize your purchase. If the initial authentication fails, it could be due to a mistyped code or an internet connection issue; simple troubleshooting steps like re-entering the information or checking your connectivity might resolve the problem.
The Purpose of 3D Secure
The primary purpose of 3D Secure is to enhance the security of online transactions and combat card-not-present (CNP) fraud. By adding an additional layer of authentication, it helps confirm that the person making the purchase is indeed the authorized cardholder, reducing the risk of unauthorized use of credit and debit cards. This protection benefits both consumers, by safeguarding their financial data, and merchants, by minimizing losses from fraudulent transactions and associated chargebacks. In 2022, global e-commerce payment fraud losses were estimated at $41 billion, highlighting the ongoing need for robust security protocols like 3D Secure.
3D Secure also plays a role in regulatory compliance, including requirements like Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). SCA mandates multi-factor authentication for online transactions to increase security. By implementing 3D Secure, businesses can meet these regulatory obligations while providing a more secure payment environment for their customers.