(VB.NET UWP/WinRT) ScMinidriver - PIN Authentication for Smart Card or USB Token

See more ScMinidriver Examples

Demonstrates how to PIN authenticate with a connected smart card or USB token.

Note: This functionality was introduced in Chilkat v9.5.0.87.

Note: The ScMinidriver functionality is for Windows-only because ScMinidriver DLLs only exist on Windows. In the next version, Chilkat will be releasing a Pkcs11 class to support Linux, MacOSX, and possibly other operating systems.

Chilkat Universal Windows Platform (UWP) / WinRT Downloads Chilkat for the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)

' This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
' See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

Dim scmd As New Chilkat.ScMinidriver

' Reader names (smart card readers or USB tokens) can be discovered
' via List Readers or Find Smart Cards
Dim readerName As String = "Alcor Micro USB Smart Card Reader 0"
Dim success As Boolean = scmd.AcquireContext(readerName)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(scmd.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


' If we are successful, the name of the currently inserted smart card is available:
Dim cardName As String = scmd.CardName
Debug.WriteLine("Card name: " & cardName)

' Perform regular PIN authentication with the smartcard.
' If authentication is successful, then the ScMinidriver session is authenticated and
' operations such as signing are permissible.

' The pin ID can be "user", "admin", or a number "3" through "7" (passed as a string).
' The possible pin ID's for a given smartcard are obtained via the GetCardProperties method.
' See Get Smart Card Properties for sample code.
' You should generally use the "user" pin ID.  You would only use the other pin ID's for very specific purposes.
Dim pinId As String = "user"

' Change this to the PIN for your smart card.
Dim pin As String = "0000"

Dim retval As Integer = scmd.PinAuthenticate(pinId,pin)

' The return value is 0 for success.
' If the retval is greater than 0, it is the number of attempts remaining before the PIN is blocked.
' If the retval equals -1, then something else went wrong and you should consult the LastErrorText.
If (retval < 0) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(scmd.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


If (retval > 0) Then
    Debug.WriteLine("PIN authentcation failed, " & retval & " attempts remaining before the PIN is blocked.")
Else
    Debug.WriteLine("PIN authentication successful. Your session is now authenticated and you may proceed with operations such as signing.")
End If



' ...
' ...
' ...



' When finished with operations that required authentication, you may if you wish, deauthenticate the session.
success = scmd.PinDeauthenticate(pinId)
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(scmd.LastErrorText)
End If


' Delete the context when finished with the card.
success = scmd.DeleteContext()
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(scmd.LastErrorText)
End If