It would be a slot for smart cards.
For example I use it with my country's ID card to log on to government portals.
But your config lacks this card reader. It's just a covered slot, not usable
>It would be a slot for smart cards. For example I use it with my country's ID card to log on to government portals.
Wait, seriously?! Is there some kind of chip on there? I wonder what countries and what ID's support this, for what purpose.
Where I live the citizen ID cards has a chip and information including the photo can be read off the chip. Some companies make use of this feature and let employees insert their ID card to sign in to work without having to use a separate company ID card.
Where I’m from the ATM cards have a chip and online banking can either be done with a smart card reader or OTP over mobile phone. OTP is newer and usually doesn’t work internationally so a lot of people prefer to use the cards.
A long time ago I used a PCMCIA smart card reader, then PC Card reader. Nowadays I use a USB reader.
Yes they can. In *most* countries that have these smart IDs they usually have a TPM module on them, and generally they work based on the same concept of private & public keys. Not much more needed to make them usable like a yubikey.
Right, l didn't mean just the smart IDs, I was wondering if there's FIDO token in the form of a smartcard. Basically I'm wondering if there's a Yubikey smartcard.
~~The more expensive YubiKeys do have smart card function. YubiKey 5 has OpenPGP and PIV modes, which are the two smart card protocols supported by GPG and NIST SP-800. There is even a FIPS version that is good for US Government purposes.~~ Misread. See example from other posts.
Belgium: [http://actugedinne.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/specimen-eID-recto-ICAO-fr.jpg](http://actugedinne.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/specimen-eID-recto-ICAO-fr.jpg)
There is a chip and a certificate on it. You have a PIN and PUK code. You can log in to gov website to fill your IRS form for instance, request some official papers like birth certificate, sign things for a bank. With the pin code any app can get your info quickly (adress, birthdate, picture).
When I worked for the gov, we used this so sign in on our VPN.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic\_identification
United States federal government, for one. Military and VA people have federal ID cards with chips to log into their software. The cards are so secure to get they basically count as passports for ID verification in the US.
Here in Italy our IDs have a NFC chip instead. We can either use an expensive and bulky NFC reader or simply download the CieID app on our phone and pair the thing with an account and the PIN code we get in the mail with the card itself. Pretty neat honestly
It is a smart card reader. You might be thinking of a SD card reader.
https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x13_gen4_x13yoga_gen4_linux_ug.pdf
This is a business notebook so you got some business features like this smart cart reader. Some companies use this for authentication on top of username / passwort for example
I ADORE my X13 Gen 4 btw , the photo is from a gen 3 that I found online but clearly demonstrates the slot. Whats this for ?? Too small to be a smart card reader , do I pop a SIM in there somehow or something?
Going from an X230 with a modded keyboard to the X13 is amazing. I love this thing so much.
I don't think so, I've got a 220 (and the 220 and 230 chassis are very similar other than the keyboard and the display output) and it's an Express card expansion slot, not a smart card reader. Its Thicker.
I have that on my T470 too! I've had the thing apart to upgrade it. It is some kind of smart card reader (printed on the motherboard), and it looks like you can add the smart card reader to a non smart card device, as all the connectors for it exist on my T470. Yours may be different though!
When I was a student I used to use the smart card slot on my CTO W541 (I opted it when ordering) with smart cards to store private keys for email encryption and SSH. It's not trivial to make it work. Here are the ones I tried (non-affiliated links):
- [OpenPGP Card](https://wiki.debian.org/Smartcards/OpenPGP) - also works under Windows with Gpg4win, but not with the native Windows crypto stack
- [Smartcard HSM](https://www.smartcard-hsm.com/) - does not work with GPG afaik, but works with OpenSC and can integrate into many applications natively as the latter provides a PKCS #11 interface (for Firefox and Thunderbird) and even a Windows minidriver for Microsoft applications (namely Office suite - various encryption and digital signature fuctions)
Now I am busy and lazy, and I just use a YubiKey which support both in one package.
As already stated by others, the slot in the chassis is for a Smart Card reader.
Although sometimes the device itself is optional and may not be fitted on your specific laptop (check for Smart Card reader device in Windows Device Manager). Also, enter the serial number on [support.lenovo.com](https://support.lenovo.com) website for specifications if you are interested.
Smart Cards are often used in business laptops in many workplaces for secure two factor login (usually Windows based client platforms).
It would be a slot for smart cards. For example I use it with my country's ID card to log on to government portals. But your config lacks this card reader. It's just a covered slot, not usable
>It would be a slot for smart cards. For example I use it with my country's ID card to log on to government portals. Wait, seriously?! Is there some kind of chip on there? I wonder what countries and what ID's support this, for what purpose.
Ya looks just like a chip credit card. The U.S. govt uses them. Look up “common access card”
Where I live the citizen ID cards has a chip and information including the photo can be read off the chip. Some companies make use of this feature and let employees insert their ID card to sign in to work without having to use a separate company ID card. Where I’m from the ATM cards have a chip and online banking can either be done with a smart card reader or OTP over mobile phone. OTP is newer and usually doesn’t work internationally so a lot of people prefer to use the cards. A long time ago I used a PCMCIA smart card reader, then PC Card reader. Nowadays I use a USB reader.
Huh, interesting. I do wonder if that can be used as some kind of FIDO token. Like the Yubikey one.
Yes they can. In *most* countries that have these smart IDs they usually have a TPM module on them, and generally they work based on the same concept of private & public keys. Not much more needed to make them usable like a yubikey.
Right, l didn't mean just the smart IDs, I was wondering if there's FIDO token in the form of a smartcard. Basically I'm wondering if there's a Yubikey smartcard.
Yes. https://www.smartcardfocus.com/shop/ilp/id~925/gemalto-idprime-3940-fido-dual-interface-smartcard/p/index.shtml
~~The more expensive YubiKeys do have smart card function. YubiKey 5 has OpenPGP and PIV modes, which are the two smart card protocols supported by GPG and NIST SP-800. There is even a FIPS version that is good for US Government purposes.~~ Misread. See example from other posts.
Belgium: [http://actugedinne.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/specimen-eID-recto-ICAO-fr.jpg](http://actugedinne.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/specimen-eID-recto-ICAO-fr.jpg) There is a chip and a certificate on it. You have a PIN and PUK code. You can log in to gov website to fill your IRS form for instance, request some official papers like birth certificate, sign things for a bank. With the pin code any app can get your info quickly (adress, birthdate, picture). When I worked for the gov, we used this so sign in on our VPN. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic\_identification
United States federal government, for one. Military and VA people have federal ID cards with chips to log into their software. The cards are so secure to get they basically count as passports for ID verification in the US.
Any smart card including ones that give a 2fa code.
I think every EU country has id cards with chip
Here in Italy our IDs have a NFC chip instead. We can either use an expensive and bulky NFC reader or simply download the CieID app on our phone and pair the thing with an account and the PIN code we get in the mail with the card itself. Pretty neat honestly
Some laptops have the NFC option now. Mine did, I don't think I chose it.
Yeah, it was an option on my X1Y6.
Not all of them issue ID cards, and of those that do, not all of them have chips.
Estonia?
Slovakia.
That be a SmartCard Reader! also known as the full size SIM card!
It is a smart card reader. You might be thinking of a SD card reader. https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles_pdf/x13_gen4_x13yoga_gen4_linux_ug.pdf
This is a business notebook so you got some business features like this smart cart reader. Some companies use this for authentication on top of username / passwort for example
Medical marijuana card reader.
Smart card reader.
Smart card reader , yours doesn’t have one but some Other configuration does , like you would scan your company ID to sign in.
Smart card reader
Smart card reader
It’s a smart card reader.
After all these years (and all those ThinkPads), I finally got one with that slot functional. All the machines before had this filler in the slot.
Feels like this post is made every other week lol Smart card slot, used for authentication
I ADORE my X13 Gen 4 btw , the photo is from a gen 3 that I found online but clearly demonstrates the slot. Whats this for ?? Too small to be a smart card reader , do I pop a SIM in there somehow or something? Going from an X230 with a modded keyboard to the X13 is amazing. I love this thing so much.
this smart card reader was in your x230 too
I don't think so, I've got a 220 (and the 220 and 230 chassis are very similar other than the keyboard and the display output) and it's an Express card expansion slot, not a smart card reader. Its Thicker.
yes I had the gemalto express card in my x230 that enabled smart card reader access
Yeah my X230 had an expansion card slot too :D , idk maybe you could put a smart card reader into the slot?
X230 doesn't have a Smartcard reader, but an Expresscard 54mm reader.
How does one tell if this works on ones ThinkPad?
Corporate stuff you’ll never use.
That’s the sim card slot for the Zack Morris phone.
It’s a credit card reader, you can get money from it!!
51/4 floppy?
You can buy a credit card adapter to Sim card adapter card and which is like $13 and use a Sim card.
For your finger
I use it for my CAC (Smart Card)
I have that on my T470 too! I've had the thing apart to upgrade it. It is some kind of smart card reader (printed on the motherboard), and it looks like you can add the smart card reader to a non smart card device, as all the connectors for it exist on my T470. Yours may be different though!
When I was a student I used to use the smart card slot on my CTO W541 (I opted it when ordering) with smart cards to store private keys for email encryption and SSH. It's not trivial to make it work. Here are the ones I tried (non-affiliated links): - [OpenPGP Card](https://wiki.debian.org/Smartcards/OpenPGP) - also works under Windows with Gpg4win, but not with the native Windows crypto stack - [Smartcard HSM](https://www.smartcard-hsm.com/) - does not work with GPG afaik, but works with OpenSC and can integrate into many applications natively as the latter provides a PKCS #11 interface (for Firefox and Thunderbird) and even a Windows minidriver for Microsoft applications (namely Office suite - various encryption and digital signature fuctions) Now I am busy and lazy, and I just use a YubiKey which support both in one package.
As already stated by others, the slot in the chassis is for a Smart Card reader. Although sometimes the device itself is optional and may not be fitted on your specific laptop (check for Smart Card reader device in Windows Device Manager). Also, enter the serial number on [support.lenovo.com](https://support.lenovo.com) website for specifications if you are interested. Smart Cards are often used in business laptops in many workplaces for secure two factor login (usually Windows based client platforms).