SmartCards
A smart card resembles a credit card
in size and shape, but unlike an ordinary credit card which stores information
in a magnetic strip a SmartCard contains an embedded 8-bit microprocessor where
data can be stored securely.
Smarts cards may have up to 1 kilobyte of RAM, 24 kilobytes of ROM, 16 kilobytes of programmable ROM, and an 8-bit microprocessor running at 5 MHz. The smart card uses a serial interface and receives its power from external sources like a card reader. The processor uses a limited instruction set for applications such as cryptography.
The most common smart card applications are:
- Credit cards
- Electronic cash
- Computer security systems
- Wireless communication
- Loyalty systems (like frequent flyer points)
- Banking
- Satellite TV
- Government identification
By using a SmartCard reader for PC, user authentication can be used, and online transactions can be supported by smartcard technology to supplement SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
SmartCard readers can be found in mobile phones and vending machines.