Efficient and secure access control system based on programmable smart cards

In this paper, we present our smart-card-based access control system based on modern programmable smart cards. We propose an efficient and secure authentication protocol that is based on a zero-knowledge authentication method. Only users who prove the knowledge of private keys stored in smart cards are verified successfully. Our system provides also the tracebility and linkability of user entries. Moreover, all system entities use advanced cryptographic primitives in order to keep a high security level that is required in access control systems employed in critical infrastructures.