Barclays has announced that it will trial two-factor authentication devices for online customers. A calculator-sized card reader will generate a unique 12-digit authentication code when a bank card is inserted. The bank expects to deploy the devices throughout 2007.
The devices are likely to be the first to conform to a new standard fromUK payments association APACS, which issued a UK card-readerspecification last year. A spokesman said: "I would speculate that otherbanks will follow suit (in issuing two factor authentication devices) ifthis deployment proves successful."
