Cryptographic smart cards

Author

Naccache, David ; M´Raïhi, David

Author_Institution

Dept. of Cryptography, Gemplus PSI, Sarcelles, France

Volume

16

Issue

3

fYear

1996

fDate

6/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Lastpage

24

Abstract

Smart cards have the tremendous advantage over their magnetic-stripe ancestors of being able to execute cryptographic algorithms in their internal circuitry. This means that the user´s secrets (be these PIN codes or keys) never have to leave the boundaries of the tamper-resistant silicon chip, which brings maximum security to the overall system in which the cards participate. Smart cards also provide special-purpose microcontrollers with built-in, self-programmable memory. Together, these features make the cost of a malevolent attack far greater than the benefits. in 1996, 600 million IC cards will be manufactured throughout the world. This article surveys the existing crypto-dedicated microprocessors and describes some of their possible evolutions

Keywords

cryptography; microprocessor chips; security of data; smart cards; PIN codes; crypto-dedicated microprocessors; cryptographic algorithms; keys; security; smart cards; Circuits; Costs; EPROM; Manufacturing processes; Plastics; Public key; Public key cryptography; Refining; Semiconductor device manufacture; Smart cards;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Micro, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1732

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/40.502402

Filename

502402