Key security features of Square

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PCI Compliance: As a Level 1 PCI-compliant service provider, Square handles the complex and costly process of meeting these standards on behalf of its merchants. This means that for any transactions processed entirely through Square's platform, the business does not need to separately validate its compliance.

End-to-End Encryption: For all card-present payments, data is encrypted the moment a card is swiped, dipped, or tapped on a Square device. This prevents sensitive cardholder information from ever being stored on a merchant's device or application.

Fraud Detection and Monitoring: Square's systems continuously monitor payments for suspicious activity using machine learning and human expertise. The company adapts its algorithms to detect new fraud trends and may flag unusual transactions for review.

Secure Hardware and Software: Square engineers security into its hardware and software from the ground up. The company does not store full credit card numbers, security codes, or magnetic stripe data on its devices.

3D Secure for Online Payments: For online transactions, Square uses 3D Secure (3DS) technology. This is a multi-factor authentication protocol that can require customers to verify their identity with their card issuer to reduce the risk of fraud.

Security measures are engineered into both their hardware and software, which are maintained by Square's in-house teams to keep payment information safe