Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Certificate
Interest in Mobile Certificate is rapidly growing. But what exactly is Mobile Certificate, and how can you start using it? Read the most frequently asked questions and answers below.
What is Mobile Certificate?
Mobile Certificate is a reliable and secure method for authentication and logging in. For years, it has been one of the most popular digital identification methods in Finland. Mobile Certificate is used millions of times per month to access various digital services.
Operating on your phone, Mobile Certificate is an alternative to online banking credentials. It’s a safe and convenient way to authenticate yourself in various online services, such as those provided by the Finnish Tax Administration, Kela, and OmaKanta.
What does authentication mean?
Mobile Certificate offers a strong and legally valid method of authentication for digital services. It acts as a digital ID. By using Mobile Certificate, you can verify your identity in services like the Tax Administration, Kela, OmaKanta, insurance companies, and public administration services. It can also be used for online shopping and signing contracts.
Which online services support Mobile Certificate?
Mobile Certificate works as an authentication method in 99.9% of Finnish digital services.
It gives access to over 20,000 domestic online services. While it’s best to use your bank’s credentials for banking services, Mobile Certificate is the more secure option for everything else.
Phishing scams targeting online banking credentials often appear very convincing and come under the guise of trusted services. By limiting your bank credentials to banking apps only, you reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud.
How can I start using Mobile Certificate?
You can activate Mobile Certificate by following the instructions on your mobile operator’s website.
Is Mobile Certificate secure?
Mobile Certificate is completely secure. Its operation is based on strong authentication, demonstrated in several ways:
• It’s activated through strong identification – the user proves their identity with online banking credentials.
• It uses two-factor authentication. Since logins must be confirmed from your own phone, misuse would require both access to your phone and knowledge of your PIN code. Even if someone gets your phone, they can’t use your Mobile Certificate without the code.
• All traffic after authentication is encrypted, and the user’s PIN code is never transmitted online.
Why should I use Mobile Certificate if my bank credentials already work?
For your own cybersecurity, it’s recommended to use banking credentials only for banking. For everything else, use Mobile Certificate, which has been jointly developed by Finnish mobile operators. Bank credentials are also secure, but they are a tempting target for cybercriminals because they grant access to online banking. Mobile Certificate doesn’t pose the same risk.
Banks can also be affected by denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, so it’s smart to have another method to access essential services during such events – Mobile Certificate provides that alternative.
Mobile Certificate is easy to use.
All you need to remember is your phone number and a four-digit PIN of your choice.
Get Started with Mobile Certificate!
Mobile Certificate is a secure and easy way for customers of DNA, Elisa, and Telia to authenticate and log in to Finnish online services. It frees you from remembering multiple passwords – you only need your mobile phone number and your chosen PIN.
