Abstract: A challenge string is sent from a server to an authentication card. The challenge string is encrypted using a private key on the authentication card. Then, the encrypted challenge string is sent as a response from the authentication card to the server. A unique identifier of the authentication card is correlated to a user record residing at the server to obtain an authentication certificate from within the user record. The authentication certificate includes a public key. The public key from the authentication certificate is used to decrypt the response at the server. A determination is then made as to whether the decrypted response matches the challenge string as originally sent from the server to the authentication card. If the decrypted response matches the original challenge string, the authentication is successful. Otherwise, the authentication fails.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to secure a data transmission from a chip card to an off-card entity. A transport key is generated at the off-card entity. The transport key is transmitted in a secure manner from the off-card entity to the chip card. At the chip card, the transport key is used to encrypt data to be sent from the chip card to the off-card entity. The data having been encrypted at the chip card using the transport key is then transmitted from the chip card to the off-card entity. The off-card entity is capable of decrypting the data received from the chip card through use of the transport key previously generated at the off-card entity.

Abstract: A method for resetting a pin on an access card is disclosed. The method includes generating a server authentication (SA) public key and an SA private key and attempting a write of the SA public key to the access card over a non-secure channel. The method further includes determining if the access card currently contains an existing SA public key.

Abstract: Processing circuitry is integrated within a hardware security module (HSM) chip card. The processing circuitry is configured to operate in accordance with a set of program instructions stored in a memory integrated within the HSM chip card. The set of program instructions includes program instructions for implementing a public-key cryptography standard (PKCS). The PKCS includes processes for generating and storing a master key. The master key is to be stored in the memory integrated within the HSM chip card. Also, using the master key stored in the memory of the HSM chip card, the HSM chip card enables direct management control of standard chip cards.