> As someone whose lived in multiple European countries since I was born, I also don't understand this comment. I don't know anyone who uses these smartcard readers at home. I don't think it's common at all.
Which EU countries? Bank card readers are super common in .nl (ING for sure) and .be (just about every single bank there) for example.
Nowadays banks often allow to use either that or, say, an app on your phone or a dedicated physical token. For example you can confirm transactions you make on your computer by unlocking an app and confirming with your fingerprint from your smartphone. But that's semi- recent. Before that kind of 2FA became a thing, it was all done with card readers.
Some countries still live in the past like, I shit you not, Societe Generale in France still has a "2FA" where it shows digits randomly on the screen and you have to click you PIN (some people still have an account like that): that is however quite pathetic and not the norm.
If I want to buy anything online using any one of my credit card, I must put it in a physical reader and reply correctly to a challenge/response.
These readers are different from the electronic ID card readers, which are also used in many EU countries (for example to fill my taxes online).
Which EU countries? Bank card readers are super common in .nl (ING for sure) and .be (just about every single bank there) for example.
Nowadays banks often allow to use either that or, say, an app on your phone or a dedicated physical token. For example you can confirm transactions you make on your computer by unlocking an app and confirming with your fingerprint from your smartphone. But that's semi- recent. Before that kind of 2FA became a thing, it was all done with card readers.
Some countries still live in the past like, I shit you not, Societe Generale in France still has a "2FA" where it shows digits randomly on the screen and you have to click you PIN (some people still have an account like that): that is however quite pathetic and not the norm.
If I want to buy anything online using any one of my credit card, I must put it in a physical reader and reply correctly to a challenge/response.
These readers are different from the electronic ID card readers, which are also used in many EU countries (for example to fill my taxes online).