Smart Card Security and Convenience on Your Mac with Active Client
Active Client Mac Download: What You Need to Know
If you are a Mac user who needs to use a smart card for authentication, you might be wondering how to do that. Smart cards are widely used in the government, military, and corporate sectors to provide secure access to computers, networks, websites, emails, and other applications. However, Macs do not have native support for smart cards, unlike Windows PCs. That's where Active Client comes in.
Active Client Mac Download
Active Client is a middleware software that enables smart card authentication for Mac users. It allows you to use your smart card and personal identification number (PIN) to log in to your Mac, access CAC-enabled websites, sign and encrypt emails, use remote access, and more. It also helps you manage your smart card PIN and digital certificates.
In this article, we will explain how Active Client works, what benefits it offers, how to download and install it on your Mac, how to use it for various purposes, and how to troubleshoot common issues with it. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to use Active Client on your Mac and why it is important.
How Active Client Works
Active Client is a software that acts as a bridge between your smart card reader, your smart card, and your Mac. It provides the necessary drivers and libraries to communicate with your smart card reader and your smart card. It also integrates with your web browser, email client, VPN client, and other applications that require smart card authentication.
When you insert your smart card into the reader and enter your PIN, Active Client verifies your identity and grants you access to the requested resource. It also retrieves your digital certificates from your smart card and uses them to sign and encrypt your data. It also allows you to change or unlock your PIN, renew or revoke your certificates, and perform other smart card management tasks.
Active Client supports standard US government-issued smart cards such as Common Access Card (CAC) and Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card. It is compatible with most smart card readers and smart cards that follow the ISO 7816 standard. It also works with various operating systems, certificate authorities, network environments, and enterprise applications.
Benefits of Using Active Client
Using Active Client on your Mac offers several benefits for both you and your organization. Here are some of them:
Security: Active Client enhances the security of your Mac and your data by using strong encryption and authentication methods. It prevents unauthorized access to your Mac and your online accounts by requiring a smart card and a PIN. It also protects your emails and other sensitive information by signing and encrypting them with your digital certificates. Active Client also helps you comply with the security policies and standards of your organization and the government.
Convenience: Active Client simplifies your login process by allowing you to use one smart card and one PIN for multiple purposes. You don't need to remember or type multiple passwords for different applications and websites. You can also use your smart card to unlock your Mac when it goes to sleep or when you close the lid. Active Client also makes it easy to manage your smart card PIN and certificates from one interface.
Compliance: Active Client enables you to use your smart card on your Mac, which may be required by your organization or the government. It supports the latest standards and protocols for smart card authentication, such as PKCS#11, CAC, PIV, SIPRNet, NIPRNet, and more. It also works with various certificate authorities, such as DoD, DHS, NASA, NIST, and more. Active Client also helps you meet the audit and reporting requirements of your organization and the government.
Productivity: Active Client improves your productivity by allowing you to access various resources and applications with your smart card. You can access secure websites, emails, remote networks, cloud services, and more with Active Client. You can also sign and encrypt documents, forms, contracts, and other files with Active Client. Active Client also reduces the downtime and costs associated with password resets, account lockouts, certificate renewals, and other issues.
How to Download and Install Active Client on Your Mac
If you want to use Active Client on your Mac, you need to download and install it first. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Requirements for Active Client Installation
Before you download and install Active Client on your Mac, you need to make sure that you have the following requirements:
A Mac computer running macOS 10.13 or later
A smart card reader that is compatible with your Mac and your smart card
A smart card that is issued by your organization or the government
A valid PIN for your smart card
An internet connection to download Active Client
An administrator account on your Mac to install Active Client
Sources for Active Client Download
There are different sources where you can download Active Client for Mac, depending on your organization or the government. Here are some of them:
The official website of ActivIdentity, the developer of Active Client. You can download a free trial version of Active Client for Mac from this website. However, you need to purchase a license key to activate the full version of Active Client.
The official website of HID Global, the parent company of ActivIdentity. You can also download a free trial version of Active Client for Mac from this website. However, you need to purchase a license key to activate the full version of Active Client.
The official website of MilitaryCAC.com, a website that provides information and assistance for military personnel who use CAC cards. You can download a free version of Active Client for Mac from this website. However, this version may not be updated or supported by ActivIdentity or HID Global.
The official website of your organization or the government that issued your smart card. You may be able to download a customized version of Active Client for Mac from this website. However, this version may have specific requirements or limitations that are different from the standard version of Active Client.
Installation Process for Active Client
Once you have downloaded Active Client for Mac from one of the sources above, you need to install it on your Mac. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Double-click on the downloaded file to open it.
Drag and drop the ActiveClient icon into the Applications folder.
Open the Applications folder and double-click on the ActiveClient icon.
Enter your administrator password when prompted.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation process.
If you downloaded a trial version of Active Client, enter your license key when prompted.
If you downloaded a customized version of Active Client, follow any additional steps that are required by your organization or the government.
Restart your Mac when prompted.
How How to Use Active Client on Your Mac
After you have installed Active Client on your Mac, you can start using it for various purposes. Here are some tips and tricks on how to use Active Client for different applications and scenarios:
How to Access CAC-Enabled Websites with Active Client
If you want to access secure websites that require CAC authentication, such as military or government portals, you need to use Active Client and your smart card. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Insert your smart card into the reader and make sure it is detected by Active Client.
Open your web browser and go to the website you want to access.
If prompted, select your smart card certificate from the list and click OK.
Enter your PIN when prompted and click OK.
You should be able to access the website with your smart card credentials.
How to Sign and Encrypt Emails with Active Client
If you want to sign and encrypt your emails with your smart card certificates, you need to use Active Client and your email client. Active Client supports various email clients, such as Apple Mail, Outlook, Thunderbird, and more. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Insert your smart card into the reader and make sure it is detected by Active Client.
Open your email client and compose a new email or reply to an existing one.
To sign your email, click on the sign icon or option in your email client and select your smart card certificate from the list.
To encrypt your email, click on the encrypt icon or option in your email client and select the recipient's certificate from the list. You can also add more recipients if needed.
Enter your PIN when prompted and click OK.
Send your email as usual. The recipient will need a compatible email client and a valid certificate to decrypt and verify your email.
How to Use Remote Access with Active Client
If you want to use remote access with your smart card, you need to use Active Client and a VPN client. A VPN client is a software that allows you to connect to a remote network securely over the internet. Active Client supports various VPN clients, such as Cisco AnyConnect, Juniper Network Connect, Microsoft VPN, and more. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Insert your smart card into the reader and make sure it is detected by Active Client.
Open your VPN client and enter the server address, username, and password for the remote network you want to access.
Select your smart card certificate from the list and click Connect.
Enter your PIN when prompted and click OK.
You should be able to access the remote network with your smart card credentials.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Active Client
Sometimes, you may encounter some issues with Active Client on your Mac. Here are some of the most common problems and how to solve them:
How to Reset Your PIN with Active Client
If you forget or lose your smart card PIN, you can reset it with Active Client. However, you need to have an administrator account on your Mac and know the administrator PIN for your smart card. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Insert your smart card into the reader and make sure it is detected by Active Client.
Open Active Client and click on the Tools menu.
Select Change PIN from the menu.
Enter the administrator PIN for your smart card when prompted and click OK.
Enter a new PIN for your smart card and confirm it. Your new PIN should be at least 6 digits long and should not contain any repeated or consecutive digits.
Click OK to save your new PIN.
How to Update Your Certificates with Active Client
If your smart card certificates expire or are revoked, you need to update them with Active Client. However, you need to have an internet connection and access to a certificate authority that issued your certificates. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Insert your smart card into the reader and make sure it is detected by Active Client.
Open Active Client and click on the Tools menu.
Select Certificate Renewal from the menu.
Select the certificate that you want to renew or revoke from the list and click Next.
Enter your PIN when prompted and click OK.
Follow the instructions on the screen to can download and install it following the same steps as the installation process. However, you may need to uninstall the previous version of Active Client first, depending on the source and the version. You can also check for updates from within Active Client by clicking on the Help menu and selecting Check for Updates.
Q: How do I contact Active Client support?
A: If you need any technical support or customer service for Active Client, you can contact ActivIdentity or HID Global, depending on the source and the license type. You can find their contact information on their official websites. You can also visit their online forums, knowledge base, and FAQs for more information and assistance. If you downloaded Active Client from MilitaryCAC.com, you can contact them through their website or email. If you downloaded Active Client from your organization or the government, you can contact their IT department or help desk for support.
Q: How do I use Active Client with other smart cards?
A: Active Client supports most smart cards that follow the ISO 7816 standard and have a PKI applet. However, some smart cards may have specific requirements or limitations that are not compatible with Active Client. For example, some smart cards may require a different middleware software, a different smart card reader, or a different certificate authority. To use Active Client with other smart cards, you need to check with your smart card issuer or provider for compatibility and instructions.
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