The nature of payments, and how they’re made, continues to change — whether credit, debit, or prepaid. Payments continue to move from one digital platform to the next, sometimes leaving customers wondering if making any of the changes are worth it, or if something even newer will come along first.
Category: AVP Solutions Merchant Info
Notes from the Land of “Euro” in “EMV”
As we’ve noted in this space before, “EMV” is coming — sooner rather than later — to America. It’s that standard — already adopted in Europe and Asia — of having an additional chip on your charge card, as well as an additional means of authenticating any charges made in person, like use of a PIN or a signature.
May Day, Pt. II: More Tips For Keeping Your POS Devices Safe In a Malware World
Last week, we talked about the RawPOS Malware that has been affecting Windows-based point-of-sale devices, and we passed along some tips for upgrading, and guarding, against such attacks on you, and your customers. This week, we finish up our “pointers” for helping you keep all your gear secure. Here are both “the basics,” and a little beyond the “basics,” to maximize transaction security:
There and Back Again! Plus: Is Your Password As Strong as the Dollar?
As we mentioned before, we’ve been getting some brush-ups — a lot of digital brush-ups – -done to the AVPS website. Much as you can’t drive your car around when it’s in the shop, we haven’t been able to blog on our same schedule while our web presence is made more secure and more visually friendly to mobile devices.
And… We’re Back! In Time for “FMI vs. EMV,” Plus: Travel News!
Hello faithful blog readers and connoisseurs of financial news and credit card insights. As you may have noticed, we had an “outage” on our web page’s blog for a few days — late last week and earlier this week.
Fed Report: Mobile Payments, Commerce on the Upswing. But…
The Federal Reserve has issued the 2015 edition of its Consumers and Mobile Finances report. Among the findings, as reported by “Digital Transactions,” are that “the number of mobile-payments users in the United States is growing steadily, but most mobile-phone owners still find other payment methods more convenient.”
Shocker: Nearly 80% of Businesses Fail Interim PCI Compliance
Recently, Verizon issued a report on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards — PCI DSS for short. The results were pretty bracing. As Computer Weekly summarizes “nearly 80% of businesses fail their interim PCI compliance assessment, leaving them vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to Verizon’s 2015 PCI Compliance Report “
Breaches Old and New: Target Settles, More Blue Cross Leaks; New Security Measures
Data breaches, their discontents and fallout, have filled the news this week. You’ll remember, of course, when the Target customer data breach in 2013 finally catapulted questions about customer security in the digital age onto the front page. Now comes word that Target has, at last, reached a settlement in that case. As tech website Gizmodo reports, “following lengthy discussions with the lawyers of those affected by the hack, the retailer has agreed to pay up a $10 million settlement.”
Tips for Selecting the Ideal Merchant Account Company
Making the most of your website means you need to choose a website merchant account. This account allows you to accept payments for the goods and services your business offers, allowing you to expand your customer base and simplify the process of providing your offerings to a wider audience. As you prepare to either start your business or expand it to include internet sales and payment processing, it is important to compare several merchant account companies to find the one that is right for you.
