The “industry’s first” all-in-one fingerprint security chip (IC) for payment cards has been unveiled by Samsung. The S3B512C chip reads fingerprint data through a fingerprint sensor, stores and authenticates information with a tamper-proof secure element (SE), and analyzes it with a secure processor. It focuses on “student or employee identification, membership or building access,” according to the company, which primarily created it for payment cards.
The new chip, however, may make it simpler for banks and others to create biometric payment cards. The solution meets Mastercard’s most recent payment card security standards, as well as international security standards (CC EAL 6+) for “protecting high-value assets against significant risks,” according to Samsung.
Faster and more secure transactions
Samsung revealed last year that it was working with Mastercard on a biometric scanning payment card with a built-in fingerprint reader. It claimed at the time that the technology would “utilize a new security chipset from Samsung’s LSI business,” suggesting Samsung’s new S3B512C chip.
The chip may also enable “faster and more secure transactions,” according to Samsung. It eliminates the need for a PIN code, as well as anti-spoofing measures that block fraudulent approaches like false fingerprints.
It’s hard to believe that, in 2022, people will still be swiping cards and signing for goods. The chip has the potential to make biometric payment cards more widespread because of Samsung’s manufacturing abilities and influence. Samsung didn’t reveal any launch customers or additional information.
