Using smart cards, About smart cards, Installing a smart card – Dell Precision M60 User Manual

Page 112

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Using Smart Cards

Dell Precision™ M60 Series Mobile Workstation User's Guide 

  

About Smart Cards

  

Installing a Smart Card

About Smart Cards

 

Smart cards are small portable credit-card shaped devices with internal integrated circuits. Smart cards come in two varieties: memory and microprocessor.

Memory smart cards store data but cannot process information. Microprocessor smart cards can add, delete, and manipulate information in the card memory.
The top surface of the microprocessor smart card contains an embedded microprocessor located under the gold contact pad. Microprocessor smart cards can
be used for programs such as:

l

 

Secure log-on and authentication of users to PCs and networks

l

 

Secure business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C)

e-commerce

l

 

Storage of digital certificates, credentials, and passwords

l

 

Encryption of sensitive data

 

 

The combination of the small size and integrated circuits make smart cards valuable tools for security, data storage, and special programs. Using smart cards

can improve system security by combining something a user has (the smart card) with something only the user should know (a PIN) to provide more secure
user-authentication than passwords alone.

Installing a Smart Card

 

You can install a smart card in the computer while the computer is running. The computer automatically detects the card.

 

To install a smart card:

1.

 

Remove the smart card blank from the smart card slot.

2.

 

Hold the card face up with the gold contact pad on the top surface and pointing toward the smart card slot.

 

 

3.

 

Slide the smart card into the smart card slot until the card is completely seated in its connector. The smart card will protrude approximately 1.27 cm (0.5

inch) from the slot. The smart card slot is located below the PC Card slot.

 

If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try again.

 

NOTE:

To use a smart card for secure PC log-on and authentication, B2B and B2C e- commerce, local file encryption, and storage of digital certificates,

additional software is required. To use a smart card for secure network log-on and authentication, file and e-mail encryption, and Virtual Private
Network (VPN) log-on, you need to enable Microsoft® Windows® PKI support.

1

gold contact pad

2

smart card (top)

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