Data storage on Smart Card

Security is a growing concern, and everyone knows that account numbers and passwords stored on our PC or on a Web server can be hacked. Having our digital identity tied to our PC is limiting and presents real security problems.

Consumer Research showed a need for a Smart Card Application that: stores under Control Personal Information that the customer choose:

• Is an Information Card
• Is Backed up like a PDA
• Is Secure and

Using a smart card or other secure portable device to store digital credentials has significant advantages:

• Personal information is stored in a secure, tamper-proof processor on the card; not sitting on a hard drive (either on the customers‘ PC or on a merchant Web server), which are both vulnerable to attack.
• The credentials are portable as the smart card is easy to carry and can be used at home, at the office, or at a PC in a hotel room.
• Anywhere anytime any place the customer can access his services and data.

What can be stored:

• Passwords
• Account numbers
• Web addresses
• Personal address book

Types of data:

• Customer related
• Merchant /Retail Provided
• Payment related
• Service provider delivered

For each party involved benefits can be defined:

• Issuer benefits
• Merchant benefits
• Cardholder benefits

Almost all the card organizations have a Data Storage solution, using the EMV card and a connected reader for enabling the issuer to position the card as a customizable platform for the storage of personal information.

For example: MasterCard Open Data Storage (MODS)

Security concerns:

Any Device or System which Stores Information in a Standardised Format & which can be Publicly Read:

• Cookie file in your internet browser
• Information in your PDA
• Membership card bar codes
• Post-it note
• Credit card magnetic stripe data
• Chip card

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