Smart Cards for Windows XP Login?

Posted by Cliff on Monday December 3, 2001 @03:45AM from the don't-lose-the-card-with-"Administrator"-access dept.

coleman asks: "I just bought a used Litronic Netsignia 210 smart card reader / programmer, from a friend for 20$. It came with 2 Cyberflex Simera phase 2 + java sim cards from Schlumberger. I was looking for a way to use the smart card (with a pin) to log in to the machine. The litronic people make a software called net sign that does this, but it is 99$ and comes with a Netsignia 210. I'd rather not have to pay that much money for such software and am looking into other options. I have heard that the University of Michigan has done this, but I don't know if they've released any of their software. I've tried several searches on the net and have only found links on DSS hacking." Anyone know of cool smart card apps for windows?"

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Re:PIN? by mfarver · 2001-12-03 05:02 · Score: 5, Informative
Any good auth system (according to Bruce Schneier ) should use two things from the following list:
- Something you have. (Smartcard, token card)
- Something you know. (Pin, password)
- Something you are. (Biometrics, fingerprint iris scan etc
A smartcard + pin solution would be far better than a system that only used on form of auth. A smartcard can be stolen, but without the pin: no access. A password can be evesdropped, but you'd need to swipe the card too.
The best security is a layered defense...