Tokenization: How it Works and How AI Improves it

What is tokenization?

Tokenization is a fraud prevention and identity protection method that replaces a user’s real information (like their card number, name, account information, etc.) with a random string of letters and numbers. This “token” can only be traced to the corresponding customer by the merchant, protecting users’ information from being potentially exposed to fraudsters during a transaction.

How does tokenization prevent fraud?

Algorithms first generate unique tokens for customers. Then, these tokens are encrypted and securely stored as unique identifiers for individual transactions. Once tokens are assigned, these replace customer data entirely at the point of sale. This, similar to encryption on a web browser, allows passage of important but sensitive customer information to pass from buyer to merchant without fraudsters being able to see anything as it happens.

Tokens hold no value on their own because the merchant is the only one with the key to decrypt the token, and the token itself doesn’t hold any user information. Because tokens aren’t mathematically reversible, fraudsters can’t use them to retrieve the original user data either.

Any sensitive customer data is securely stored in a token vault or tokenization system to prevent unauthorized access. Some tokenization systems use dynamic tokens that change with each transaction. That way, even if a token is somehow compromised, it becomes obsolete for future transactions.

Types of fraud tokenization can help prevent

1. Credit card and debit card fraud – Tokenization is widely used in the payment industry to secure credit card and debit card transactions. It prevents fraudsters from intercepting and using actual card numbers by replacing them with tokens during transactions.
2. E-commerce fraud – In online transactions, tokenization protects against fraud by securing sensitive payment information, such as credit card details. This is particularly important in e-commerce where transactions occur over the internet, making them susceptible to interception and unauthorized access.
3. Data breaches – Tokenization helps mitigate the impact of data breaches. Even if a hacker gains access to the tokenized data, the tokens are meaningless without the corresponding tokenization system and cannot be used to retrieve the original sensitive information.
4. Phishing and card skimming – Tokenization reduces the risk of phishing attacks and skimming devices that attempt to capture sensitive information during transactions. Since tokens are used instead of actual card numbers, even if obtained, the tokens are useless without the tokenization system.
5. Account takeovers – Tokenization helps protect against fraud resulting from the theft of login credentials. For example, in the context of mobile payments or digital wallets, tokenized information ensures that even if the device is compromised, the actual payment details remain secure.
6. Man-in-the-middle attacks – Tokenization prevents man-in-the-middle attacks where an attacker intercepts communication between two parties. Even if the attacker manages to intercept tokens, they cannot derive the original sensitive data from the tokens alone.
7. Replay Attacks – Tokenization, especially when combined with dynamic tokens, helps prevent replay attacks. In a replay attack, a captured transaction is fraudulently re-executed. Dynamic tokens change with each transaction, rendering captured tokens useless for subsequent transactions.

Benefits of using tokenization in fraud prevention

Utilizing tokenization in fraud prevention provides significant benefits for financial institutions, e-commerce retailers, fintechs, and other businesses that handle customer data.

Tokenization for financial institutions

Reduced risk: Tokenization significantly reduces the risk of payment card fraud by replacing actual card numbers with tokens. Tokens also enhance the security around sensitive customer data, a crucial piece of compliance with data protection regulations and industry standards like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).

Protection of data: Though data breaches and major fraud attacks do happen, in the event of a breach tokenized data is essentially useless without the corresponding tokenization system. This minimizes the impact of breaches on customer accounts and reduces the risk of financial losses.

Customer trust: Implementing robust security measures like tokenization also increases customer trust, making clients feel more confident that their financial information is being handled securely.

Tokenization for e-commerce retailers

Secure Transactions: Tokenization secures online transactions by replacing sensitive payment information with tokens. This safeguards customers’ credit card details during the purchase process, reducing the risk of fraudulent activities.

Consumer Confidence: With the increasing prevalence of online shopping, tokenization helps build consumer confidence. Customers are more likely to trust e-commerce retailers that prioritize the security of their payment information.

Compliance: E-commerce businesses need to comply with various data protection regulations. Tokenization assists in meeting these compliance requirements, such as those outlined in GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Streamlined Checkout: Tokenization can provide a seamless and secure checkout experience. Returning customers can be recognized by their tokens, simplifying the checkout process without compromising security.

Tokenization for fintechs

Innovation and Security: Fintech companies often rely on innovation to disrupt traditional financial services. Tokenization allows them to introduce new and secure payment methods without exposing sensitive data, fostering both innovation and security.

Compliance with Regulations: Fintechs, like traditional financial institutions, must adhere to regulatory requirements. Tokenization helps fintech companies comply with industry standards and regulations, ensuring the security of customer information.

Partnership Opportunities: Fintechs often collaborate with other entities in the financial ecosystem. Tokenization enhances security in these collaborations by minimizing the exposure of sensitive data during data exchanges.

Customer Trust: As trust is crucial in the financial sector, implementing tokenization technologies can enhance customer confidence in fintech services, ultimately contributing to customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Tokenization for other businesses handling customer data

Data Protection: Tokenization is not limited to financial data. It can be applied to any sensitive customer information, such as personal identification details. This protects businesses and their customers from identity theft and other types of fraud.

Regulatory Compliance: Tokenization helps businesses comply with data protection regulations and privacy laws. This is particularly important as data privacy becomes an increasingly significant concern for customers and regulators.

Reduced Liability: By tokenizing customer data, businesses can reduce their liability in the event of a data breach. Tokenized data is much less valuable to attackers and provides an additional layer of defense against unauthorized access.

Customer Confidence: Implementing tokenization demonstrates a commitment to securing customer data, and fostering trust and confidence among clients. This is particularly important for businesses that rely on maintaining a positive reputation.

Can fraudsters bypass tokenization?

Tokenization significantly enhances security but isn’t immune to every potential threat. The main risk is a compromised point of sale (POS). Attackers who gain access to a system’s endpoints, like the POS terminals or a device used for transactions, can steal sensitive information before it gets tokenized. Likewise, poorly implemented systems or failure to detect fraud patterns can allow attackers this same unauthorized access.

There are some more advanced techniques fraudsters use to thwart tokenization, too. In social engineering attacks, fraudsters trick cardholders into revealing their information, and even if a token is present, the fraudster has what they need to steal from the victim. Advanced persistent threats target organizations with many attacks, aiming to compromise systems over time. The most sophisticated fraudsters can discover vulnerabilities that allow for zero-day exploits in the software or systems implementing tokenization, and then exploit them before they are patched.

Enhancing tokenization with AI

Tokenization, like all forms of fraud prevention, is much stronger with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. These advanced technologies bring additional layers of security and efficiency to tokenization processes.

AI and ML algorithms can analyze transaction patterns in real time and identify anomalies indicating fraudulent activity. Through behavioral biometrics, they analyze user behavior to create profiles on how users interact with devices, like the speed they type, and other behavioral characteristics. These profiles can be used for user authentication and to detect anomalies that may suggest unauthorized access.

For tokenization specifically, AI can optimize the process by dynamically adjusting parameters based on usage patterns and other fraud signals. This “smart tokenization” adapts to changing threats to make tokenization systems more responsive and efficient.

Integrating AI and machine learning into tokenization processes safeguards customers against the most sophisticated threats by adding intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to detect and respond to emerging threats. To learn more about how best-in-class solutions like DataVisor accomplish this, and to get a personalized demo, set up a time to talk with our team.