Sirukortit

Sirukortit are a Finnish term for chip cards, or smart cards, which contain an embedded integrated circuit used to store data and perform secure operations. They are used across various sectors, including financial payments, public transportation, access control, and identity verification. Most sirukortit include a plastic card body with an embedded chip, and many also support a contactless interface for near-field communication.

Technically, sirukortit commonly follow international standards such as ISO/IEC 7816 for contact cards and ISO/IEC 14443 for contactless cards. In payments, they often rely on EMV specifications and networks that enable offline or online authorization. The trend in recent years has been toward multi-application cards that can carry several independent apps on a single secure element.

Historically, smart cards emerged in the late 20th century and gained rapid adoption during the 1990s and 2000s. In Finland and other countries, sirukortit expanded with the growth of electronic payments, transport smart cards, and digital identity initiatives. The technology has continued to evolve toward stronger cryptography, dynamic data authentication, and enhanced privacy protections.

Security and privacy are central considerations for sirukortit. Cards typically require a user method such as a PIN or biometric verification, and may implement cryptographic keys and mutual authentication with readers or terminals. Privacy benefits arise from portable, interoperable credentials, but concerns persist about data sharing, cross-service profiling, and potential card skimming or cloning without proper safeguards.

See also the related standards and technologies, such as ISO/IEC 7816, ISO/IEC 14443, EMVCo, and NFC.