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Author Archives: Smartcard Focus

Wearable contact smartcard readers with Bluetooth connectivity

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: Certgate AirID 2, Certgate AirID 2 Mini

Turn existing corporate smart-cards into wearable wireless Bluetooth authenticators Standard corporate contact smart-cards can now be used to securely authenticate user access simply by being near to a host workstation or mobile device. The AirID 2 contact smart-card readers from…

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ACR122U no longer available. Best alternative?

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACR1252U, ACR1252U SAM

The ACR122U from ACS has been an enormously popular contactless card / tag reader the world over, thanks to being the first general purpose USB CCID-compliant reader supporting both MIFARE / ISO 14443 cards and NFC / FeliCa tags, together…

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Best smartcard readers for Apple MacBook / MacBook Pro / MacBook Air

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACR1255U, ACR39U-NF, ACR39U-UF, SCR3500-C

Apple’s more recent MacBooks include Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C ports – which are all compatible with USB-C connectors. Identify the ports on your Mac. The readers below are ideally suited for use with MacBooks. If you need a…

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Best smartcard readers for Apple Mac

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACR1252U, IDBridge CT30, Identiv uTrust 2700R, Identive uTrust 3700F, Omnikey 5023 CL, Omnikey 5025 CL

Apple Mac and iMac systems come with a range of connection ports, commonly including the USB-A interface widely used by desktop smartcard readers – Identify the ports on your Mac. If you’re looking for a smartcard reader for MacBooks –…

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Best smartcard readers for Microsoft Surface, Surface Pro and Surface Go

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACR1252U SAM, ACR1255U, ACR39U-N1, ACR39U-NF, SCL3711, SCR3500-A, SCR3500-C

Microsoft’s more recent ultra-portable notebooks now include USB-C ports, while other models include the larger ‘classic’ USB-A ports. The readers below are ideally suited for use with Microsoft Surface devices. Note – it’s important to understand that smartcard readers conforming…

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A secure PINPad reader in operation

New secure PINPad readers

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: APG8201-B2, IDBridge CT700

There is change in the air when it comes to PINPad smartcard readers, with several models going out of production, and others either coming back or being launched. Gemalto, who are now part of Thales, the multinational security and defence…

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An ACR39U reading a card onto a laptop

USB-C Smartcard Readers

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACR39U-NF, ACR39U-UF, SCR3500-C

With the USB-C connector now appearing on many desktops and laptops as well as on mobile devices, there is growing demand for add-ons such as smartcard readers to be USB-C compatible. Although this can easily be achieved using a small…

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smart card inserted into keyboard

Smartcard-based logon: minimal cost, modest effort, maximum security

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: Smartcard Logon Proof of Concept Kit

It really doesn’t have to be costly or complicated to implement two factor smartcard authentication for your Microsoft-based corporate network, especially since this feature is built into Windows! By using our proof of concept kit costing just £149 (or $199…

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various contactless card security features

Comparing RFID door access card standards

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: DESFire 4K card, iClass 2k/2 + Prox Card, iClass 2k/2 Card

The use of contactless smart cards and RFID fobs for building access control aids security through manageability, while maintaining convenience. Card-based digital identity credentials can easily be invalidated or updated in a centralised physical access management system when someone loses…

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smart card chips

Java card, MULTOS, .NET..? Smartcard operating systems explained

By Smartcard Focus -

Tags: ACOS3, ACOS5, MULTOS SDK

Just like computers, smart cards come in all shapes and sizes (although not literally, since their physical properties are actually highly standardised!!) Smart cards are, in fact, more similar to computers than you might at first think. Underneath that gold…

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ACM1252U-Y3 ACM1252U-Z2 ACOS3 ACOS5 ACR38 ACR39T-A1 ACR39T-A3 ACR39U ACR39U-N1 ACR39U-NF ACR39U-UF ACR122 ACR122 starter kit ACR1252U ACR1252U SAM ACR1252U SDK ACR1255U ACR3901U APG8201-B2 Certgate AirID 2 Certgate AirID 2 Mini DESFire 4K card Feitian bR301 FeliCa Lite NFC tag FeliCa RC-S380 iClass 2k/2 + Prox Card iClass 2k/2 Card IDBridge CT30 IDBridge CT700 Identive uTrust 3700F Identiv uTrust 2700R Key-ID FIDO U2F security key MIFARE Classic 1K card MIFARE Classic 1K Keyfob MIFARE DESFire EV1 4K keyfob MIFARE Ultralight card MULTOS SDK Omnikey 3121 Omnikey 5021 CL Omnikey 5023 CL Omnikey 5025 CL SCL3711 SCR3500-A SCR3500-C Smartcard Logon Proof of Concept Kit

Recent Posts

  • Wearable contact smartcard readers with Bluetooth connectivity
  • ACR122U no longer available. Best alternative?
  • Best smartcard readers for Apple MacBook / MacBook Pro / MacBook Air
  • Best smartcard readers for Apple Mac
  • Best smartcard readers for Microsoft Surface, Surface Pro and Surface Go

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