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Powered Smart Card |
A smart card is a physical card with an integrated chip that functions as a security token. Smart cards are usually the same size as a driver's licence or credit card and are available in metal or plastic. They communicate with a reader by either direct physical contact (also known as chip and dip) or a short-range wireless connectivity standard like radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC).
Smart cards are used for a number of purposes, the most popular of which being credit cards and other forms of payment. The payment card industry's decision to adopt smart cards for the EMV payment card standard has boosted smart card distribution in recent years.
It performs the functions of a CPU, memory, and an input-output interface. In several scientific and technical disciplines, the Worldwide Organization for Standardization (ISO) establishes voluntary international standards. However, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has yet to set any standards for "Smart Card" devices.
Types of Smart CardSmart Cards can be classified in two types. They are:
- Contact Smart Card: The pins of the card reader's connection must physically touch the contact pad on the Smart-Card during data transmission in a Smart-Card with a contact-type interface.
- Contact less Smart Card: For data transfer, a Smart-Card with a non-contact type interface does not require a physical connection. This interface is made up of capacitive plates that are positioned within or on the surface of the card, and it communicates utilising radio frequency signals.
An average smart card may contain 8 kilobits of RAM, 346 kilobits of ROM, 256 kilobits of programmable ROM, and a 16-bit microprocessor. An external source of power provides power to a smart card via a serial interface, like a card reader. To handle applications such as cryptography, the processor has limited instructions.
The most common smart card applications are:
- Computer security systems
- Loyalty systems (like frequent flyer points)
- Government identification
To authenticate a user, smart cards can be used with a smart-card reader attached to a computer. Smart card technology may also be used in conjunction with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to increase the security of Internet transactions.
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