Press release 14/10

Furtwangen, December 03, 2010 – Since November 1, it has been possible to apply for the new ID card (nPA) with integrated chip.
In addition to the handy credit card format, it offers the advantage of transferring transactions that require authentication to the digital world.
This requires a reader that transmits the data to the PC after a six-digit PIN has been entered.
Consumer protection experts advise entering the PIN only via a standard or comfort reader, as these have their own keypad in contrast to a basic reader and are therefore PC-independent.
The manufacturer REINER SCT is now offering readers of all three classes in its own online store (www.chipkartenleser-shop.de/shop/npa).
The prices of the standard and comfort readers are reduced during the introductory phase due to the government’s subsidized measures for the IT security kit.
The three reader classes differ in function and design.
With the basic reader, the PIN must be entered via the computer keyboard.
Inadequately secured computers run the risk of the PIN being tapped by malware – up-to-date virus protection and an activated firewall are therefore an absolute must.
The standard reader is equipped with a display and its own keypad and therefore enables secure PIN entry.
The comfort reader also has its own display and keypad.
In contrast to the standard version, the device is equipped with an additional security mechanism.
This is the only way to use the signature function and thus all the possibilities of the new ID card.
The two higher-value readers also support almost all applications of contact-based chip cards (e.g. online banking via HBCI/FinTS, Secoder and EBICS).
The Federal Ministry of the Interior recommends using only readers certified by the BSI, such as the basic reader from REINER SCT.
Managing Director Carsten Sommer assumes that the certification of the standard reader will be completed in December and that of the convenience reader will follow in January.
Larger quantities of both readers will be available from January and February 2011 respectively. The price varies between approx. 70 and 160 euros depending on the type. The first readers will be offered at reduced prices of 37.90 and 119.90 euros thanks to the government subsidy.
The basic reader will be in stock from December and costs around 35 euros. (The text contains approx. 2,972 characters)