Intuit is making changes to QuickBooks to better protect your customers’ sensitive credit card data. On July 1, 2010, new password protection requirements will go into effect for all QuickBooks 2010 users who accept credit cards. These new requirements affect both users and administrators of merchant service-enabled QuickBooks 2010 company files. To meet the new requirements, both users and administrators will need to create a ‘complex password’ for access to QuickBooks. A ‘complex password’ must contain at least 7 characters and include at least one number and one uppercase letter. The password also needs to be changed every 90 days.
In early June, a QuickBooks 2010 update will be available for download that will enable you to meet these new password protection requirements. The update lets you easily create a complex password so you can continue to open your merchant-service enabled company files. If you’d like to learn more about the new password protection requirements, just visit
http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Pages/KnowledgeBaseArticle/898899
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I’ve heard there are new password protection requirements? What are they?
A: Yes, on July 1, 2010, any merchant using QuickBooks 2010 to accept credit card payments will have to meet new password protection requirements. But, it’s easy to meet the new requirements – you just need to make sure that your current password meets the requirements for a ‘complex password.’
Q: What’s a complex password?
A: It’s simply a password that contains at least 7 characters with at least one number and one uppercase letter. You need to change the new ‘complex password’ every 90 days. It’s one more way to keep your customers’ credit card info safe and secure.
Q: Why is QuickBooks making me create this new password?
A: As you probably know, hackers and cyber-criminals are getting more sophisticated all the time. And credit card numbers are what they most like to get their hands on. In order to protect customer credit card information, the payment industry has mandated use of complex passwords. These new complex passwords are tougher to hack and they give you and your customers more protection.
Q: What do I have to do to create a new complex password?
A: It’s easy. Just follow these 4 steps:
1. Open QuickBooks
2. Choose Company -> Customer Credit Card Protection
3. In the Customer Credit Card Protection dialog choose Enable Protection
4. In the Customer Credit Card Protection Setup dialog specify and confirm your new complex password and a challenge question and then select OK.
That’s all there is to it!
Q: What happens if I don’t download the QuickBooks 2010 update?
A: If you use QuickBooks 2010 to process credit card payments, you’ll need to install the update in order to be in compliance with the new payment industry standards. That’s why it’s important you download the new QuickBooks 2010 update being released in early June.
