Smart Card-Based Authentication

C.

The authentication method being referred to in the question is multi-factor authentication (C).

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires users to provide multiple forms of identification to access a system. This is in contrast to single-factor authentication (SFA), which only requires one form of identification, such as a password or username.

In the given scenario, smart cards serve as one form of identification, while usernames and passwords serve as another. Smart cards are physical devices that contain digital certificates, and they are used to authenticate users by requiring them to insert the card into a smart card reader. The card then provides a unique identifier that the system can use to verify the user's identity.

In addition to smart cards, usernames and passwords are also used for authentication. This is a common form of authentication that requires users to provide a unique username and a password to access a system.

The use of both smart cards and usernames/passwords in the authentication process means that multiple factors are being used to verify the user's identity. This makes the authentication more secure than if only one factor were used.

Mutual authentication (A) refers to a situation where both the client and the server authenticate each other. Anonymous authentication (B) is a method that does not require any identification, which is not the case in the given scenario. Biometric authentication (D) uses physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to verify the user's identity, which is also not being used in the given scenario.