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Modulr glossary

Authentication (Biometric, 2FA, etc.)

Authentication is the process of verifying a user’s identity before granting access to a service or approving a transaction. In payments, authentication mechanisms such as biometric verification (including fingerprint or facial recognition) and two-factor authentication (2FA) enhance security by preventing unauthorised access to an account or device with sensitive payment capabilities.

Applications

E-commerce:

Reduces fraud in online card payments by verifying the cardholder's identity

Banking and fintech:

Helps issuers and payment providers comply with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements.

Advantages

  • Enhanced security: Reduces unauthorised transactions by verifying that the genuine account holder is authorising the payment
  • Fraud prevention: Helps reduce chargebacks related to fraud.

Challenges

  • User Experience: Additional authentication steps can cause friction and increase checkout abandonment
  • Implementation complexity: Requires integration with card schemes and issuer systems.

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