What type of device is used to read the microchip in smart cards?

The correct choice is a device known as a reader, which is specifically designed to interact with and read the information stored in the microchip of smart cards. Smart cards contain embedded microchips that can store and process data securely. A reader is equipped with the necessary technology to establish communication with that chip, allowing it to retrieve and transmit the card’s information for verification or transaction purposes.

In this context, a reader can utilize various technologies, such as contact or contactless methods, to operate effectively. For example, contact readers require the card to be inserted into the device, while contactless readers can scan a card that is held in proximity.

Other terms may refer to devices that are involved in illicit activities related to identity theft or fraud but are not designed for legitimate transactions with smart cards. For instance, a skimmer refers to a device that illegally captures card data from magnetic stripes of debit or credit cards, and a shimmer is a more advanced kind of skimmer that targets the RFID functionality of contactless cards. Neither of these devices reads the microchip itself, which differentiates them from a reader's legitimate purpose. A scanner generally refers to equipment used for digitizing physical documents or images and is also not applicable in this context.