Internet Card Readers - are they unique to each Bank?

MarkyMarkD

It's very, very curious.

If the readers are not time-synchronised (and I presume that they are not) then I would expect any two readers to produce inconsistent answers - even two Barclays readers. And I don't believe that is a sensible outcome or that it is in fact what does happen, as people will quite likely have more than one reader if they have a joint account.

So how on earth does the technology work? And how can a Nationwide reader and a Barclays reader generate equally valid codes?

When I get home, I'll try the Nationwide card in the Barclays reader and see where that gets me. I haven't actually used the Nationwide card with the reader at all, yet, as I rarely use that account.

Victor_Delta

What happens if you put a card in a reader and then repeat the exercise a few moments later ie same card in same reader? Do you get the same output both times?

V

switch007

CLAPTON wrote: »

curious........... I have now tried by barclays debit card in my nationwide reader a total of 11 times and I have successfully logged into my Barclays a/c each time....

I must have misunderstood. I stand corrected!

:T:T:T:T:T

MarkyMarkD

Well, I can now use my Barclays card in my Nationwide reader.

I can't try the other way around as Nationwide's internet banking is down. When do they ask you to use PinSentry anyway? It's never asked me thus far.

MPH80

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

So how on earth does the technology work? And how can a Nationwide reader and a Barclays reader generate equally valid codes?

It seems reasonably logical to me - but I'm only guessing here - the chip probably has a function called 'identify' - this function requires the pin ... if you input the pin - it uses a seed number on the card (known to the bank) and combines this with the card details/pin to create the 8 digit hash number.

It would then increment the seed number, or move to another pre-defined seed in a sequence - and so would the bank.

The bank probably has 10 or so of these authorisation codes pre-generated so you can use the reader to identify without actually using it on the bank.

Either way - the reader simply gives the card the pin and asks for the code back so it doesn't care what bank the card is from (providing it adhears to the standard).

Anyway - that'd be my guess - and would be how I'd do it.

Of course - it all falls apart if someone can work out the seed number so I'd hope it'd be a little more secure than what I'd described.

M.

adouglasmhor

Anyone used one with Linux yet? Just worried about having to put windoze back on my home PC.

MPH80

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Anyone used one with Linux yet? Just worried about having to put windoze back on my home PC.

None of them are connected to a PC - so are OS independant - if the website works ... the reader will work.

jumpingjackerflasher

I'm going backpacking abroad and having to take the card reader with me(and not losing it) is a pain. I know that you can use any uk banks card reader, but does anyone know if foreign banks have card readers and whether I could use them. My bank didn't know.

switch007

jumpingjackerflasher wrote: »

I'm going backpacking abroad and having to take the card reader with me(and not losing it) is a pain. I know that you can use any uk banks card reader, but does anyone know if foreign banks have card readers and whether I could use them. My bank didn't know.

Why dont you ask your bank to disable your card reader so you don't have to use it?

Nationwide sent me one and I don't think they have activated it because I've never had to use it with online banking. I think with Natwest I only do it for certain special transactions like setting up a Direct Debit.

jumpingjackerflasher

switch007 wrote: »

Why dont you ask your bank to disable your card reader so you don't have to use it?
Nationwide sent me one and I don't think they have activated it because I've never had to use it with online banking. I think with Natwest I only do it for certain special transactions like setting up a Direct Debit.

You don't need to activate it, I'll ask them about disabling it, but i seriously doubt it as it seem they want it to be universal. I mean I once tried to get nationwide to increase the amount of money that i could get out the atm and it wasn't possible. So no account tailoring i think.

setting up DD's and transfers is probably something I'll be doing though for rent etc