Playing catch up with Visa and MasterCard, Japanese card organisation JCB has launched J/Secure, a 3-D Secure online authentication programme for purchases made on the Internet.
Visa launched its online authentication service Verified by Visa back in December 2001 while MasterCard introduced SecureCode in September 2002.
Like the MasterCard and Visa schemes, J/Secure requires shoppers to enter passwords in a pop-up window before online purchases are approved.
Masahiro Omoto, EVP and general manager, head of advanced technologies, JCB, says: "By increasing security and reliability, J/Secure will build customer confidence in credit card payments on the Internet, and will contribute to boosting and expanding the e-commerce market."