Credit card in the last two decades has undergone processes of innovation and evolution without equal and smart credit cards, or smart cards are fully covered in this context. Especially in recent years because the emergence of new models and technological standards of security regarding credit cards and debit (ATM card, rechargeable card, etc.) which are seen as enriching the functionality and types of services. Technological innovation has gone hand in hand with the economic financial and this has allowed progress in commercial systems of financial products and large retailers, as well as the habits and peculiarities of consumers fully inserted into the consumer society of modern capitalism and advanced.

As mentioned in this context is fully embedded credit cards or smart card. We try to understand what it is in detail and in particular functions. First we must say that smart cards are very similar to credit cards. The main difference is that unlike the latter, smart cards continue to be a plastic badge containing a small microchip in them that, with functions of the microprocessor, is designed to make reading and writing of encrypted code information involving sensitive data of the holder, the holder of the card. This chip revolutionized the world of electronic payments, until a few years ago based solely on the papers presenting the simple magnetic stripe on the back, which was used to read the data and then save the information as well as to authenticate the transaction and therefore recognize the validity of payment card and then eventually takes place. This band is so integrated with the smart card to increase the security of the electronic instrument and would preclude the cloning of credit cards.

Smart cards are based primarily on a standard that has been called EMV, see my previous article on smart cards because they wanted to EMV by the three major global players: Euro pay, Mastercard, and Visa. The implementation of the chip was necessary to safely store data and to expand the memory card itself, then secure, more efficient access to the line of credit and access to the account. Thanks to this standard and also increase the reliability of the interaction with the card payment instruments such as POS devices. The movements are then recorded and found to be valid with great precision and scrupulous. It then records all changes and transactions, and better-controlled if not convincing specific security systems, send specific alert systems. The internal data are also protected by special security PIN. The authentication is done instead in "on line" that is, in real time than requested operation. Authentication is provided by technological and financial protocols SDA, CDA, DDA: digital signatures, monitoring programs and safety codes.

All this has been implemented for the falsifications to severely restrict the cloning and therefore the fraud involving credit cards, to meet the increasing number of transactions, to implement technological standardization on a global scale to develop systems to monitor transactions to date made online through various web sites and e-commerce and financial transactions. All this in order to access services every day more innovative and customized according to different needs.

There are different types of smart cards, and main memory cards and microprocessor cards. Memory cards are those credit cards with a chip for the memory and then to the only store information, have high safety standards but virtually crossed.

Smart cards to stand out for the security PIN, so when you make purchases there is no need to put his signature on the receipt issued by the operator Convention and therefore qualified to function as a majority of shops, restaurants, suppliers of particular services, petrol stations, telephone operators, and other businesses that currently allow access to electronic payment. You can find more information on smart card system in my previous articles.