Why is smart card-based authentication more secure than other methods of authentication?
The secure microcontrollers used in Gemalto smart cards have security features manufactured into the ICs that thwart attackers from accessing any sensitive information that is stored in the card. Gemalto smart card technology is extremely difficult to duplicate or forge and has built-in tamper protection. Smart card chips include a variety of hardware and software capabilities that detect and react to tampering attempts and help counter possible attacks. This reflects in Common Criteria level EAL 5+ certification achieved by the Gemalto smart card micro-controller. In addition, smart card technology provides secure hardware-based key generation and storage and standard PKI-based challenge-response process to unblock access. Gemalto smart card technology provides security benefits at a number of levels that other hardware-based authentication mechanisms cannot match.
