Smart Card Security Mechanism

As a smart card used to stored data, so how the data can be write, read, and updated ? For that purpose the process have to pass some security mechanism. The security mechanism for every access level is diffrence based on data's security level.

Below is the security mechanisms based on the type of Smart Cards :

Memory Card

Because this type of smart card is just to store data without the capability to calculate or process it, so the security mechanism is more simple. Usually after the card detected by the reader, card will challenge the reader to read PIN stored inside it. The reader will calculate the PIN as part of the authentication process.

Microprocessor Card

A microprocessor card has a capability to perform it's own enryption method and algorithm to protect the data stored inside it. The security mechanism of a microprocessor card difference based on how the data can be accessed.

Why it is more complicated to protect data inside a microprocessor card ? Because the data stored inside a microprocessor card are more critical. For example a Cardholder data inside a credit card.