Understanding 2FA in Payment Processing

Second-factor authentication (2FA) has become an essential layer of security in e-commerce, particularly for banking and financial transactions. It typically requires users to verify their identity by entering a code sent to their phone via SMS, email, or through an authentication app. While this adds an extra layer of protection against fraud, it also introduces potential points of failure that QA experts need to identify and mitigate.

2FA is especially important during high-risk transactions like payments. Banks and payment gateways use it to reduce the risk of unauthorized transactions. However, any failure in the 2FA process can result in session timeouts, abandoned carts, and frustrated users who cannot complete their purchases.

Common Causes of 2FA Failures in Banking Apps

2FA issues can arise from a variety of sources, ranging from technical problems in backend systems to external factors like network conditions. Some common causes include:

a. Network Latency or Connectivity Issues: If users are on a poor network, they may not receive the 2FA code in time. This often leads to session timeouts, forcing users to restart the payment process.

b. API Failures Between E-Commerce Platform and Bank: If the communication between the e-commerce platform and the bank’s API is delayed or interrupted, the 2FA prompt may fail to appear. This is often due to overloaded servers or improper error handling in the API integration.

c. Delays in Code Delivery (SMS or Email): There are cases where users don’t receive the 2FA code within the expected time frame. This could be due to issues with the SMS or email service providers, or limitations in the system’s ability to handle peak traffic.

d. Expired or Invalid Tokens: Even when the 2FA code is received, issues can occur if the user takes too long to enter it. Many systems invalidate the code after a short period (e.g., 30 seconds to a few minutes), leading to failed transactions.

e. Incorrect Error Handling in UI: When a 2FA prompt fails, some systems may not communicate clearly with the user. For example, a user might not be informed that their session has timed out, leaving them confused about whether the transaction succeeded or failed.

How QA Experts Detect and Fix 2FA Issues

a. Simulation of Various 2FA Scenarios

To thoroughly test the 2FA process, QA experts should simulate different real-world scenarios. This includes testing:

• Multiple Device Types and Operating Systems: Since 2FA can behave differently on different devices and OS environments, it’s essential to test across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
• Various Network Conditions: Simulating poor connectivity or unstable networks helps identify situations where the 2FA code fails to arrive or arrives late.
• Multiple Authentication Methods: Testing SMS-based 2FA as well as email and authentication apps (such as Google Authenticator) ensures robustness across all methods.

QA experts should verify that the 2FA request-response cycle works smoothly in all cases, ensuring the prompt is delivered without significant delays.

b. API Monitoring and Stress Testing

The communication between the e-commerce system and the banking APIs is crucial to delivering 2FA prompts. QA teams can monitor this interaction using API testing tools like Postman or automated scripts that check the availability and performance of these endpoints.

Stress testing the API under high loads (such as during sales or promotions) can reveal performance bottlenecks that might delay the 2FA prompt. Logging mechanisms should be implemented to trace any failures in API communication.

c. Timeout Handling and Session Management

In cases where the 2FA prompt is delayed or never received, it’s important for the system to handle these timeouts gracefully. QA experts should create test cases that simulate such delays to ensure that the session does not abruptly terminate without informing the user.

Clear error messaging should guide users when sessions expire. Instead of silently failing, the system should provide a meaningful message—like “Session timed out, please try again”—and allow the user to retry without having to re-enter all their payment information.

d. Log Analysis for Token Expiry and Code Delivery

Another essential step for QA is analyzing server logs to track the lifecycle of 2FA tokens. By reviewing logs, QA experts can determine if tokens expire too quickly or if there are other timing-related issues.

Additionally, tracking the 2FA code delivery through email and SMS services can reveal if there are delays or failures in sending out the codes. Testing with mock services can help identify where these delays originate.

 Are you facing issues with 2FA in your payment processing? Contact Evaficy for an in-depth QA consultation, and let us help you ensure a smooth and secure checkout experience for your customers. 

Best Practices for Preventing 2FA Problems

To avoid the pitfalls of 2FA failures, there are some best practices that QA teams and developers can implement:

a. Implement Grace Periods: Allow for a small grace period where expired tokens can still be validated. This ensures that users who face minor delays don’t have to restart the payment process.

b. Use Reliable Communication Channels: For SMS and email-based 2FA, work with reliable service providers that guarantee fast and accurate delivery. Incorporate fallback mechanisms, like allowing users to resend the code if it doesn’t arrive within a set time.

c. Optimize API Performance: Ensure that the connection between the e-commerce platform and the bank’s API is optimized for high loads, especially during peak traffic periods. Use asynchronous communication where possible to avoid timeouts.

d. Provide Clear Error Messaging: The user experience is critical. When something goes wrong, users should be immediately informed of the issue and be given actionable next steps, such as retrying or contacting support.

Second-factor authentication is a key part of securing online payments, but it introduces its own challenges that can disrupt transactions. By thoroughly testing various 2FA scenarios, monitoring API interactions, and handling timeouts gracefully, QA experts can prevent common 2FA issues from affecting end-users.

QA testing for 2FA should be as comprehensive as possible, covering everything from device compatibility to network conditions. A robust and well-tested 2FA process ensures that users can complete their payments quickly, securely, and without frustration.