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Zero-Knowledge Encryption: How Kudos Protects Your Credit Card Data
December 12, 2024
Your Financial Security Is Our Top Priority
At Kudos, we're committed to providing not just the best tools to maximize your financial decisions, but also the highest level of security for your sensitive information. Today we're excited to announce a significant security upgrade: Zero-Knowledge Encryption for your credit card data. Learn more about our comprehensive approach to protecting your data in our Privacy Policy.
What is Zero-Knowledge Encryption?
Zero-Knowledge Encryption (ZKE) is an advanced security model that ensures your credit card information is encrypted and decrypted only on your own devices - never on our servers. This means:
- Your card details are never in a decrypted state in our systems
- The encryption and decryption process happens exclusively on your device
- We are physically unable to access your card information
- Each encryption key is unique to you and can only be used for your data
Why Zero-Knowledge Encryption Matters for Your Financial Data
In traditional systems, companies need to decrypt your sensitive information on their servers to process it. This creates a potential vulnerability - if their systems are compromised, attackers might access this data.
With our Zero-Knowledge approach, we've eliminated this risk entirely. Even in the extremely unlikely event of a security breach, your credit card information remains fully protected because:
- We never store plaintext (unencrypted) card data
- We never possess the keys to decrypt your data
- Each user has their own unique encryption key
How Zero-Knowledge Encryption Works at Kudos
Here's a simplified explanation of our secure approach:
1. Secret Key Generation
When you first use Kudos, a unique secret encryption key is generated directly on your device. This key never leaves your device in a form we can read.
2. Card Encryption
When you add a credit card to your Kudos wallet, your card details are encrypted with your secret key directly on your device before being sent to our servers. Your unencrypted card information never touches our systems.
3. Secure Storage
We store only the encrypted version of your card data. Even our own engineers and administrators cannot access your actual card numbers.
4. Cross-Device Security
To allow you to access your cards across multiple devices, we've implemented a secure key exchange system:
- When you log into Kudos from a new device, we help your new device request the key from one of your existing devices
- This transfer uses advanced encryption ensuring only your devices can read the key
- If you don't have access to your existing devices, our recovery system allows you to regain access safely
5. On-Device Decryption Only
Whenever you need to use your card information (for example, during autofill), decryption happens exclusively on your device. The unencrypted card numbers are never sent back to our servers.
6. Additional Protection Layers
We use extra security measures like unique salts and thousands of encryption iterations to ensure that even in the extremely unlikely case of a breach, your data would remain secure.
Industry-Leading Security Standards Protect Your Financial Information
This security model has been adopted by leading companies in password management, cloud storage, and end-to-end message encryption. We're proud to bring this same level of protection to your credit card information.
Our implementation uses the same high-quality cryptographic algorithms trusted by cybersecurity experts worldwide:
- AES-GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard): A 256-bit encryption algorithm certified by the US National Security Agency for top secret information
- PBKDF2: Used with 650,000 iterations to create secure keys - the same algorithm used by industry-leading password managers
- SHA-256: A cryptographic hash function that creates unique digital fingerprints of data
- Public Key/Private Key Cryptography: The same technology that secures HTTPS websites, including your online banking
Secure Financial Tools Without Compromise
At Kudos, we believe you shouldn't have to choose between great financial tools and great security. With Zero-Knowledge Encryption, you can enjoy all the benefits of Kudos with the peace of mind that your credit card data is protected by the strongest security technology available.
We're committed to continually enhancing our security standards to keep your financial information safe. Zero-Knowledge Encryption for your cards is just one more way we're working to earn and maintain your trust every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Credit Card Security
Is Zero-Knowledge Encryption different from regular encryption?
Yes. While regular encryption protects your data during transmission, the company still has access to decrypt it on their servers. With Zero-Knowledge Encryption, we never have the ability to decrypt your credit card data - only your devices can do that. For complete details on how we handle all aspects of your data, please review our Privacy Policy.
Will this security feature slow down my experience?
No. We've optimized our encryption processes to work seamlessly in the background without affecting performance.
What happens if I lose all my devices?
We've designed a secure account recovery process that allows you to regain access to your encrypted data while maintaining our Zero-Knowledge principles.
Is this the same technology used by password managers?
Yes! We use the same security principles trusted by leading password managers, but specifically optimized for protecting financial information and credit card data.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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