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Android users authenticate unlocking their phone by using biometrics, a pattern, or a passcode, whereas Wear OS users authenticate by opening the Google Wallet app prior to payment. To pay at points of sale, users hold their authenticated Android device to the point-of-sale system's NFC reader. Users can also remotely halt the service on a lost phone via Google's Find My Device service. The "dynamic security code" is the cryptogram in an EMV-mode transaction, and the Dynamic Card Verification Value (dCVV) in a magnetic-stripe-data emulation-mode transaction. The service keeps customer payment information private from the retailer by replacing the customer's credit or debit card Funding Primary Account Number (FPAN) with a tokenized Device Primary Account Number (DPAN) and creates a "dynamic security code generated for each transaction". Google Pay uses the EMV Payment Tokenization Specification. The service has smart-authentication, allowing the system to detect when the device is considered secure (for instance if unlocked in the last five minutes) and challenge if necessary for unlock information.
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To pay at points of sale, users hold their authenticated device to the point of sale system. Users can add payment cards to the service by taking a photo of the card, or by entering the card information manually. Google Pay requires that a screen lock be set on the phone or watch. Instead, it generates a virtual account number representing the user's account information. When the user makes a payment to a merchant, Google Pay does not send the actual payment card number. The service lets Android devices wirelessly communicate with point of sale systems using a near field communication (NFC) antenna and host-based card emulation (HCE). It is similar to contactless payments already used in many countries, with the addition of two-factor authentication. It replaces the credit or debit card chip and PIN or magnetic stripe transaction at point-of-sale terminals by allowing the user to upload these in Google Wallet. Google Pay uses near-field communication (NFC) to transmit card information facilitating funds transfer to the retailer.
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