3D Secure stands for ‘Three Domain Secure’ – the payment industry’s internet authentication standard. Visa have called their version ‘Verified by Visa’ or VBV for short and MasterCard have called their equivalent ‘MasterCard Secure Code’.
3D Secure can be thought of as an online version of ‘Chip and Pin’ technology, whereby the cardholder has a personalised password registered against their card that is then entered during the deposit process.
3D Secure authentication requires you, the cardholder, to register your card to take advantage of this service. This is a once off process (per card) which takes place on the card issuer’s website or at the point of deposit. You select a password which will then be used by your card issuer to authenticate each online transaction.