Barclays PINsentry

October 17, 2007

Barclays PINsentry
Several months ago, Barclays announced a new security system for online banking in the UK. The device is named PINsentry and is used to log in to their online banking sytem by providing it your PIN code. The PINsentry is a small calculator sized device which has a slot for your credit card on the top, a screen and a keypad to enter your PIN number. After successful authentication you then use the number provided on the screen to log in to your online bank account. Not every Barclays online customer will get a PINsentry device right away. Only those who set up payments to new third party accounts will begin to use the PINsentry device. Around half a million customers either will, or have just received their PINsentry device.

I received mine a couple of weeks back and it does what it says it does. I can log in first time, every time with an 8 digit number generated from my card and PIN code. On a security side it is more secure because it requires that the person logging in has the physical card to log in with and also knows the PIN code as well as having a Barclays PINsentry device. The only downside I have found is that it needs to travel with me so that I can access my accounts anywhere I want and I tend to still forget this and find I cannot log on when needed.

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Written by Matthew · Filed Under Tech News