A fresh wag resemble acredit cardin size and shape , but inside it is completely unlike . First of all , ithasan at heart – a normal reference card is a uncomplicated slice of charge plate . The inside of a smart card normally contains anembedded microprocessor . Themicroprocessoris under a Au tangency stamp pad on one side of the wit . suppose of the microprocessor asreplacingthe usual magnetic stripe on a credit card or debit placard .
Smart cards are much more popular in Europe than in the United States . In Europe , the health insurance andbankingindustries expend smart card extensively . EveryGerman citizen has a smart card for health insurance . Even though smart card have been around in their forward-looking configuration for at least a ten , they are just starting to take off in the United States .
Magnetic stripe technology remain in wide economic consumption in the United States . However , the data on the stripe can easily be read , write , deleted or change with off - the - shelf equipment . Therefore , the stripe is really not the best place to store sensitive information . To protect the consumer , businesses in the U.S. have invested in extensive on-line central processing unit - based data processor networks for verification and processing . In Europe , such an infrastructure did not develop – instead , the bill of fare have a bun in the oven the intelligence .
The microprocessor on the smart placard is there forsecurity . The innkeeper computer and card reader really " babble " to the microprocessor . The microprocessor enforces access to the data point on the plug-in . If the host computer read and wrote the sassy card ’s random memory access retentivity ( RAM ) , it would be no different than adiskette .
Smarts wag may have up to 8kilobytesof RAM , 346 KB ofROM , 256 K of programmable ROM , and a 16 - piece microprocessor . The voguish card uses a serial interface and receives its mightiness from outside sources like a card reader . The processor apply a limited teaching arrange for applications such as cryptography .
The most common smart card covering are :
Smart cards can be used with a smart - card reader affixation to apersonal computerto authenticate a user . Web browsers also can apply smart add-in technology to supplement Secure Sockets Layer ( SSL ) for improved security of net transactions . Visa ’s Smart Card FAQshows how on-line purchases work using a smart scorecard and a PC equipped with a smart - card lecturer . Smart - identity card readers can also be see inmobile phonesand vend machines .
See the next page for more entropy .
