Ghost Ransomware Attacks Target Outdated Systems
The current wave of ransomware attacks from the Chinese hacking operation known as Ghost infiltrates systems by exploiting vulnerabilities in organizational software. The Federal Bureau of Investigation warns that the hackers are primarily targeting outdated versions of software and firmware. Ghost uses publicly available computer code to exploit security weaknesses in systems that have not […]
Biometric Authentication Faces Barriers, But Use Cases for Merchants Have Emerged
There have been many highly publicized efforts to introduce biometric authentication into the merchant space, such as Amazon’s palm payment technology. While widespread adoption of biometrics in retail has yet to occur, intriguing use cases continue to emerge. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Christopher Miller, Lead Emerging Payments Analyst, and Don Apgar, Director of Merchant […]
Mastercard Launches One Credential in Play for Gen Z Consumers
Consumers have become increasingly aware of the benefits of emerging payment methods and are accustomed to using different payment mechanisms in various scenarios. Gen Z, in particular, is especially payments-savvy—one of the reasons Mastercard is launching its One Credential platform. One Credential allows customers to choose from multiple payment methods like debit, credit, buy now, […]
D.C. May Experiment with Swipe Fee Limits
Washington, D.C., could be the next jurisdiction to tackle credit card swipe fees. According to an exclusive from Axios, 13 other states have introduced similar bills, but the fact that this one is in the nation’s capital could bring extra salience to the issue. Axios reports that D.C. councilmember Charles Allen plans to propose The […]
In a Challenging Environment, Credit Card Issuers Should Prioritize Stability Over Growth
Credit cards have evolved far beyond simple plastic payment cards, adapting successfully to rapidly shifting technologies. However, despite their growing popularity, credit card issuers face three key obstacles this year: a disrupted business model, deteriorating credit quality, and the shifting definition of what a credit card is. The industry landscape was examined in 2025 Credit Payments […]
Payments as a Service (PaaS): The Fast Track to Payments Modernization
Tue, Mar 11, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST Register Now The rapid evolution of Payments as a Service (PaaS) offers financial institutions a compelling solution for modernizing payment infrastructure. PaaS enables secure, scalable, and cost-efficient payments processing in the cloud, reducing the burdens associated with legacy systems. This webinar will delve into the […]
Gen Z Has More Credit Cards—and Uses Them More—Than Other Generations
Younger consumers in Texas are more likely to own credit cards than previous generations at the same age, and they tend to use them more frequently. While this can lead to more delinquencies, it could also result in higher credit scores over time. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas recently examined the credit card habits […]
SoftPoint Adds Facial Recognition Amid Growing Biometric Authentication Adoption
Point-of-sale system provider SoftPoint is adding facial recognition solutions to its network of retailers, in the latest integration of biometric verification in retail applications. This integration will utilize BigBear.ai’s Trueface facial recognition software for payments at banks, restaurants, convenience stores, and event venues. One of the main reasons for incorporating biometrics is to mitigate fraud […]
The Downside of Not Offering Real-Time Payments
There have been remarkable strides toward U.S. real-time payment adoption in recent years, driven by growing demand among businesses and consumers. As the long-awaited ubiquity of instant payments draws closer, the financial institutions that have yet to adopt this nascent payment method face tremendous downsides. In a recent PaymentsJournal podcast, Justin Jackson, Head of Enterprise […]
Malware-as-a-Service Lowers the Technology Bar for Threat Actors, Study Finds
Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) now accounts for over half of cyber threats targeting organizations. These threats have become more prevalent as cybercriminals increasingly outsource their operations. According to a research from Darktrace, the use of MaaS tools picked up steam in the latter half of 2024, making up 57% of identified fraud activities. One of the most […]