Square Contactless and Chip Reader User manual
Contactless and Chip Reader
PCI Compliance Policy and Procedures
Version 1.00
Table of Contents
01 Introduction
05 Square Reader Authentication and Use
07 Square Reader Security
10 Version History
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 i
Introduction
Square’s Contactless and Chip Reader enables acceptance of EMV and NFC based
transactions. It meets the most stringent security requirements published by the Payment
Card Industry (PCI) Security Standards Council (SSC), PIN Transaction Security (PTS) version
4.1.
The purpose of this document is to address the security requirements as listed in the PCI PTS
Point of Interaction (POI) version 4.1 Derived Test Requirements (DTRs) B20. As required by
PCI SSC this document can be placed in the public domain.
Environment description
The Square Contactless and Chip Reader (“Reader”) is a secure payment device that is
designed for use by merchants in many industries for accepting card-present payment
transactions. The Reader only works with the Square Register application and a compatible
mobile device1running in a Square Stand (https://squareup.com/stand). There is no
configuration required other than to verify that the Reader is fully powered and connected via
a USB po to the Square Stand.
Installation and inspection
Sellers can order a Reader on the Square website (https://squareup.com) or purchase one at a
number of retail outlets (https://squareup.com/retail). Upon receipt of the Reader, the Seller
should inspect that the hardware version (S8) and serial number are visible on the underside
of the Reader.
Bottom view:
1https://squareup.com/help/en-us/aicle/3887-devices-compatible-with-square-register
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 1
Introduction
Isometric top-down view:
Front view:
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 2
Introduction
Side view:
Back view:
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 3
Introduction
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 4
Square Reader Authentication and Use
Authentication of the Square Reader
Upon receipt, the operator can connect the Square Reader to the USB hub of the Square
Stand. The Square Reader is cryptographically authenticated to both the Register application
and Square back-end servers. If the Square Reader is valid, it will register as such with the
Square Register application. If the operator has received an unauthorized reader, the Square
Register application will indicate the reader cannot be used with the application. The user
does not have configurable application or Reader settings for the authentication function.
Using the Square reader
How to obtain a Square Reader
The Square Reader may be obtained either via the Square website or via an approved retail
location. The Square Reader is ready for use upon receipt. (The Seller should verify that
Square offers payment processing in their country.) To use, simply remove the Square Reader
from the packaging and connect to a USB po of the Square Stand. The Square Reader
should authenticate itself to the Square Register application and operation can continue.
Attributes of a Square Reader
The Square Reader has the following approval classes: Secure Card Reader (SCR), Secure
Read and Exchange of Data (SRED), Integrated Chip Card Reader (ICCR). The Square Reader
is intended for use in environments with attended payments; it is not intended for use as an
unattended payment terminal (UPT).
How to store a Square Reader
To store the Square Reader simply remove it from the Square Stand USB po and store for
next use. In the event the Seller will not use the Square Reader for more than twelve (12)
months at a time, be sure to charge the Square Reader prior to storage and periodically to
preserve its readiness.
Procedures for using a Square Reader
It is impoant that each day or before use the Seller check the Reader to make sure it has not
been tampered with between uses. This can be easily done by looking at the chip card slot to
verify there are no foreign objects such as capture devices, card skimmers, extra wires/cables
or other materials.
The Square Register application will convey operational messages from the Reader including
when the device is ready for payment and when a payment data capture is complete. The
Square Reader has no user-configurable security options.
Security Self-Tests
In addition to the continual tamper detection and response, the Square Reader authenticates
the firmware and terminal configurations using RSA 3072/SHA-256 every time it is powered
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 5
Square Reader Authentication and Use
on. The Square Reader also implements a forced reboot every 23.5 hours which initiates the
same self-tests as when the device is powered on.
How to decommission a Square Reader
To decommission the Square Reader please ship the device to the following address for
decommissioning:
Square, Inc.℅
: Reader Decommissioning
1455 Market St, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 942103
USA
How to review the hardware and firmware version
A Square Seller can confirm the hardware version by physical inspection as described above.
In addition, the Seller can confirm the hardware and firmware version via the
Suppo>Readers screen of the Square Register application.
The PCI approved firmware version is 2.2 which is displayed as “202xxx”.
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 6
Square Reader Security
Privacy shielding
The Square Reader is not a PIN-entry device and, in accordance with PCI POS PED Security
Requirements and EPP Security Requirements technical FAQs version 2.0, does not require a
privacy screen.
Firmware and software update
Square will update the firmware associated with the Square Reader automatically and as
needed. This will occur in the background without user interaction required. In the event of a
critical update, the Square Register software will notify the user of the critical nature of the
update and advise a course of action for applying the update. Based on the criticality of the
update, Square may disable transaction processing until a firmware update is successfully
applied.
Infrequent or seasonal use
The Square Reader has a primary battery and backup battery. The primary battery is used for
operation of the Square Reader. The backup battery is used to maintain the tamper-detection
features of the Square Reader. If the primary battery is entirely discharged the backup battery
will maintain tamper-detection of the device for one year. If the Square Reader is not fully
charged annually it will enter into a tampered state and become inoperable.
Common use and recharging of the primary battery will prevent the Square Reader from
entering a tampered state. For infrequent or seasonal users of the Square Reader we
recommend charging the Square Reader fully at least once each year.
Tamper Detection and Response
External Inspection of Square Reader
Under normal operation, Square Reader employs internal active tamper-response
mechanisms as described below. These mechanisms are enforced automatically and do not
require any initial configuration by the user.
Prior to accepting payments with Square Reader, the user must inspect the Reader for
evidence of external tampering. Procedures should include, at minimum, examination to
identify:
•Evidence of inses, wires, overlays or any unknown component connected to the Reader
or inside the card slot
•Evidence of modification or disassembly of the Reader
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 7
Square Reader Security
•Visible or tactile changes to the cable connections or card slot
Please contact Square Suppo at https://squareup.com/square-suppo if you discover any
evidence of external tampering.
Automatic Tamper Response
The Square Reader may identify ceain events as attempts to tamper with its operation and
alter its inner workings. If the Square Reader identifies a tamper event it will erase the
encryption key material it contains and become inoperable.
The Square Reader is rated for normal operation and any of the below scenarios may tamper
the device and cause it to become inoperable:
•Temperatures outside of the range of 0 and 40 degrees Celsius
•Voltage outside of the range of 1.6 and 3.9 volts
•Any attempt to open/disassemble/take apa the Square Reader or access pas inside
The Square Reader is intended to be fully charged once a year. If the Square Reader’s primary
battery is fully discharged and left for more a year without a recharge it may become
inoperable.
The Seller can detect if a tamper event has occurred by connecting the Square Reader to an
approved mobile device with the Register application installed. Opening the Register
application will notify the Seller if the device has reached a tamper event.
If the Square Reader experiences one of the above tamper events, Square will reach out to the
Seller and communicate as appropriate how to return the Square Reader to Square for secure
disposal and replacement.
Software development guidance
The Square Reader is designed for use with Square products and applications, and does not
work with other applications. All code is developed, written, and managed by Square.
Square developers must refer to the Software Engineering and Vulnerability Management
Procedures when developing new software for Square Readers.
Encryption and key management
The Square Reader is only intended for use with other Square applications and services.
Square peorms all key management, key loading, and acquiring. Operating the device with
any other key loading, acquirer, or key management will render the device inoperable. In
addition, the use of the device with different key management systems will invalidate the PCI
approval of this device.
All of the cryptographic keys used by the Square Reader to protect the confidentiality and
© 2016 Square Inc. All Rights Reserved. Version 1.00 8
Other Square Payment Terminal manuals
