opensc ☆
« Back to VersTracker
Description:
Tools and libraries for smart cards
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Security
Tags: smart-cards pkcs11 security cryptography authentication
Install: brew install opensc
About:
OpenSC provides a set of libraries and utilities to access smart cards, primarily focusing on PKCS#11 and CT-API interfaces. It enables applications to perform cryptographic operations like digital signatures and encryption using keys stored on secure hardware. This tool is essential for developers and users needing to integrate strong authentication mechanisms into their systems.
Key Features:
  • PKCS#11 middleware implementation
  • Support for various smart card drivers (e.g., OpenPGP, Estonian ID)
  • Command-line tools for card management (pkcs11-tool, opensc-explorer)
  • Support for PIV and CAC cards
Use Cases:
  • Securely storing private keys and certificates for SSL/TLS
  • Performing digital signatures for document signing
  • Two-factor authentication for system login (SSH, PAM)
Alternatives:
  • CoolKey – Legacy support for CAC/PIV cards, less actively maintained than OpenSC.
  • OpenCT – Alternative CT-API implementation, often used in conjunction with or replaced by OpenSC.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Jan 14, 2025 5:06pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 44d9c2e5
Oct 10, 2024 4:06pm 0 VERSION_BUMP 4af87a30
« Back to VersTracker  |  Browse Packages  |  About