It works with the Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0 operating systems and will be optimized for Windows 2000. Windows for Smart Cards can be programmed with multiple keys. It can be used to log on to a PC, to log on to one or more networks, and to perform remote logons. Protection Corporate computers generally are configured to require a form of authentication for logon purposes. Password authentication, the most widely used logon security mechanism, is only as infallible as its users.
Users often share their personal passwords with friends and spouses.
Even the most reliable user may write a password on a slip of paper where another can later discover it. If a user does not safeguard a password, the network may be subject to concurrent usage of a user account or, worse, may be unprotected against malicious break-ins. Windows for Smart Cards can be used by only one individual at a time, making concurrent account usage impossible. Because it is essential to accessing the network, users are inclined to carry it with them wherever they go, preventing malicious break-ins. The security officials at your company determine the authentication mechanism used with Windows for Smart Cards, whether it is as basic as a PIN or as advanced as fingerprint recognition or retinal scanning.