Which of the following is a credit card-sized device used to securely store personal information and used in conjunction with a PIN number to authenticate users?

Question

Options

• AProximity card
• BJava card
• CSD card
• DSmart card

• B
  3% (1)
• C
  6% (2)
• D
  90% (28)

Explanation

A smart card (D) is a credit card-sized device containing an embedded microchip that securely stores personal data - cryptographic keys, credentials, certificates - and requires a PIN to authenticate the holder, combining "something you have" with "something you know."

Why the others are wrong:

• A. Proximity card - uses RFID to authenticate by proximity alone; no PIN, no stored personal data beyond an ID number.
• B. Java card - a real technology (a smart card that runs Java applets), but it's a platform/specification, not the general category name for this device type.
• C. SD card - a removable flash storage card for files/media; has no authentication mechanism or microprocessor for security operations.

Memory tip: Think "smart = secure + PIN." Smart cards are smart because they have a processor that can perform crypto operations, unlike dumb storage cards (SD) or passive cards (proximity). On exams, when you see "PIN + card-based authentication," the answer is almost always smart card.

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