WonderCrypt - USB Token Smart Card

Tokens and Smard Cards

"USB Tokens" and "Smart Cards" are two technologically identical yet different things used for similar purposes. They contain a tiny computer chip (secured EEPROM protected memory) for securely storing information. They are different in their form factor and interface.

While "USB Tokens" are typically smaller than a house key and are designed to interface with the universal standard bus (USB) ports found on millions of computers and peripheral devices, "Smart Cards" typically have credit card type interface and usually require a dedicated reader to be installed or plugged to the computer.

The first main advantage of carrying this tiny computer chip whether on "USB Token" or "Smart Card", commonly called tokens, is their flexibility. There is no need, for example, to carry several tokens. One token can simultaneously be an ID, a credit card, a stored-value cash card, and a repository of personal information such as telephone numbers or medical history. A token can be easily replaced if lost, and, because a password (or other form of security) must be used to access information stored on it, it is totally useless to people other than its legal owner. At the first attempt to use it illegally, the token would be deactivated by the token protection mechanism itself.

The second main advantage is security. Tokens are encryption devices, so that the user can encrypt and decrypt information on it with a user selected password. Thus tokens are very flexible in providing authentication. Finally, with the information about the user stored on tokens, these can provide to other parties a useful device resource for customizing products and services.

Their Application, Usefulness, Portability, Ease of Use, Durability, Flexibility and Deployment
issues are discussed below and may help a buyer in deciding which one to go for.

Some well known tokens:

There are several manufacturers of USB Tokens and Smart Cards. Some of them are listed here with their token prouct memory sizes:

Aladdin eToken PRO                     16, 32, 64 KB
Aladdin eToken R2                        16, 32, 64 KB
Rainbow iKey 1000/1032               8, 32 KB
Rainbow iKey 2000/2032               8, 32 KB
Schlumberger Cryptoflex                8, 16 KB
Siemens CardOS M 4                   16, 32, 64 KB
GemPlus GPK                                  4, 8, 16 KB
Datakey Model 310                          8, 32 KB
Datakey Model 330                          8, 32 KB
Eutron CryptoIdentity                     32, 64 KB

USB Token OR Smart Card:

WonderCrypt works with all such tokens that support PKCS#11.

PKCS =
Public Key Cryptography Standards

Application: From an application view both are similar.

Usefulness: Virtually all PCs produced today have at least one USB port, the user can buy a USB token off the shelves and get started to using it. The USB Port provided on a PC can be used to connect a USB Token produced by any manufacturer. Most PCs do not have a Smart Card reader and all readers are not compatible with all smart cards. However, a smart card may carry picture or other printed information about its owner. With the recent introduction of lower-cost readers, cost no longer poses a significant barrier.

Portability: Physical and Application portablity are provided by both. Smart Cards fit nicely inside a wallet and are similar in look and feel to the typical credit card, USB tokens offer the convenience of being stored on a user’s key chain. Storing on key chain significantly reduces the chances of losing or misplacing the token. It is not very convenient to remove a smart card from wallet, plug into a reader for use then remove from the reader to store back into the wallet. It is easy to plug or unplug a USB token carried on the key chain. However, both can be worn as a necklace and are being used so.

Ease of Use: USB Token drivers are easily installed on the computer to interface with the USB port and now in most cases are automatic. Smart Card readers can be difficult to install and configure.

Durability: Both seem to be equally durable. The chips inside both the USB tokens and the traditional Smart Cards cannot be physically tampered, and if they are altered in some way, the chips are designed to automatically destroy themselves. Fewer parts gives USB tokens a greater level of durability. If readers and their parts are included in durability assessment then USB tokens have edge over smart cards.

Flexibility: Both utilize either a port or hub on a PC. However most smart card readers have either only one or two slots. PC standards have now defined a maximum of 127 USB devices per machine. Moreover, lack of application standards associated with Smart Cards is an obstacle to flexibility.

Deployment: Smart Card implementations generally require external readers to be installed on each user’s machine. Virtually all PCs produced today have at least one USB port.












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