PINs, CVVs, CIDs and UNumbers
For many years codes have been used to authenticate information about people and financial transactions. For example, when using an ATM machine a Personal Identification Number (PIN) must be entered before a transaction can be completed. Only the correct PIN will authenticate or verify an ATM card's account number. A fraud perpetrator, who has a stolen ATM card, cannot complete an ATM transaction without the correct PIN.
More recently Card Verification Values (CVVs) and Card Identification Numbers (CIDs) have been added to most credit and debit cards. Increasingly these codes are required to complete telephone and Internet transactions, where a card is not required. Only the correct CVV or CID will authenticate or verify the account information. If a fraud perpetrator knows a card number, but does not have access to the card or know its CVV or CID, then a fraudulent transaction cannot be completed if the CVV or CID number is required.
Pins, CVVs and CIDs are all unpredictable numbers - or as Ethent uses the term UNumbers. The security of these numbers is based on the fact that a fraud perpetrator cannot determine or calculate one of these numbers because each is unpredictable. UNumbers can be used to authenticate information about any object like an event ticket, bank check, product label or a person.
To learn how Ethent uses UNumbers, visit Interactive Demonstrations: "Unpredictable Numbers" for a hands-on
presentation of how UNumbers are caluated and how they are used to authenticate information.