What is 3D Secure (3DS)
3D Secure is a security system for card payments made online. It protects card data (card number, expiry date and CVV code) against misuse and at the same time ensures that the payment is made by the authorised cardholder and not a fraudster.
3DS verification applies only to card payments.
3DS from the payer's perspective
During payment, the payer enters their card details (card number, expiry date, CVV code) on the payment gateway and submits the payment.
In the next step, the payer may be asked to verify the payment via 3D Secure.
Confirmation can take place, for example, in one of the following ways (depending on the payer's bank settings):
entering a one-time SMS code
entering a PIN or password
biometric check (fingerprint or FaceID in the case of a mobile application)
In some cases, verification can take place automatically without the payer being redirected to 3DS verification.
3DS and Apple Pay
With Apple Pay, payer verification takes place directly on the device using Face ID, Touch ID or device passcode. Separate 3D Secure verification is therefore usually never required for these payments.
Payment with 3DS Authentication
Dynamic 3DS management
The Comgate gateway offers the option to choose the 3DS operation mode:
Automatic 3DS – default setting for all clients
Fast payment – optional setting subject to additional fees
Fees
Automatic 3DS – free of charge
Fast payment – charged according to your valid price list or the price list of additional services. Fees are charged only for those payments where acceleration occurs.
Automatic 3DS settings
By default, the Comgate gateway uses the automatic mode, which takes into account card scheme rules, regulation and risk assessment. Based on these rules, it redirects the payer to 3DS or not.
The standard 3DS setting is not subject to any fees.
Fast payment
In Fast payment mode, the gateway evaluates submitted payments according to preset rules. Payments evaluated with a low level of risk are processed without redirecting the payer to 3DS verification.
This reduces the risk of errors and repeated attempts that the payer could make when confirming 3DS verification, thus speeding up the entire purchase process.
If the gateway evaluates that the payment is risky, it automatically redirects the payer to 3DS verification. Fast payment therefore does not mean a blanket shutdown of security.
What the gateway evaluates, for example:
Transaction amount: card payments up to CZK 2,500/EUR 100 are not redirected to 3DS
Payment history on the gateway: an above-average number of transactions by a single payer within a short period of time is evaluated as risky
Information about the card used: e.g. the BIN code of the payment card
The device from which the payment is made
The merchant's business segment
Fast payment without 3DS verification
Enabling Fast payment via the API
You can activate Fast Payment via the API:
Activation of Fast payment in the Client Portal
You can activate the feature in your Client Portal. If the field for switching it on is not visible to you, please contact our customer support.
Log in to your Client Portal.
Go to the Integration → Shop settings → Payment methods tab.
In the Dynamic 3DS control management field, select the Fast payment option.
If you want to turn the feature off, switch the field back to the Automatic 3DS option.
Click on the Save button.
Example of a field for enabling/disabling 3DS dynamic control