Smartcard Reader Driver for Windows

Smart Card Reader Driver:

A smart card reader is a device that allows users to insert and remove smart cards. They can be built into the user’s device or be connected via USB. Smart card readers must comply with the CCID specification and have a standard CCID device driver installed on the user’s device. So, the latest version of Smartcard Reader Driver is provided for Windows on this page.

PC/SC:

So, the PC/SC specification facilitates smart card integration into computing environments. It includes both an API and a protocol for communication between the smart card and the host system. This interoperability makes it possible for applications written for Windows to work with smart cards and readers that comply with the PC/SC standard. Thales is an active member of the PC/SC Workgroup and contributes to the development of the standard.

Several of our smart card readers are compliant with the PC/SC standard. These products can be used on a Linux system with the help of the pcsc-lite CCID driver. The open-source pcsc-lite package provides middleware that makes it possible to use smart card readers on other operating systems than Windows. For example, remote desktop solutions like rdesktop and Citrix XenApp can make use of this technology.

The pcsc-lite library implements the PC/SC API and partial ISO7816 support. It is designed to run on both Windows and Linux (.Net Core or Mono using pcsc-lite) and supports both USB and serial readers. The pcscd daemon is part of the pcsc-lite package and ensures that the system can talk to the reader. This includes handling APDU commands and responses. Interpreting the PIN data sent by the card, and determining how to disconnect from the reader.

PIV:

PIV is a security standard that provides high assurance identity proofing and lifecycle management on a secure smart card. While originally designed for the US federal government. It has seen wide adoption in commercial applications. Its solid cryptographic foundation and focus on interoperability have made it a popular choice for organizations. That need to secure access to sensitive data, applications, or resources. Its success has spurred additional standards such as PIV-I and CIV, while also attracting new uses such as the use of a PIV-compliant hardware security key (like the Yubico YubiKey) for passwordless authentication.

So, the core of PIV is a technique called digital image correlation. Which combines multiple images to calculate the relative displacement of particles within each image. This method avoids the need for Pitot tubes or other intrusive flow measurement probes and allows data to be collected at very high speeds. PIV can be combined with other measurements, such as temperature or concentration measurements, to study more complex flows.

In the context of securing access to networks and physical facilities. The most common implementation of PIV involves a standardized badge with photographs and a PIV-compliant device such as the YubiKey. This is used in conjunction with card readers positioned at security doors, workstations, or other points of access to sensitive assets and systems.

Contact:

Whether for desktops, secure entry, or remote access. Smart card readers need to provide the right balance of ease of use with industry-leading security. Thales’ SafeNet reader portfolio offers the best-in-class combination of convenience and reliability, backed by 30 years of leading security and cryptography research and development.

This driver supports the external Smart card readers that IDEMIA has identified to work with the new USAccess smart cards for logical (computer) access. These readers require a physical Windows computer. A Mac using Bootcamp, or a virtual Windows computer running on VMware or Parallels to work with ActivClient and the new USAccess smart cards.

If you have a CAC reader that doesn’t show up in Device Manager or shows up as an Unknown device. Try the following: Right-click on the CAC reader that appears under Smart Card readers in the Device Manager, then select Uninstall. Unplug the reader and wait a few minutes, then plug it back in. This will force a driver update and should make it appear in Device Manager. If this doesn’t help, continue on to the next step.