Is it possible to access a smartcard reader connected to a computer from a web browser running on the same machine, i.e. from an ActionScript, JavaScript or whatsoever script running therein?
For example, I read something about the flash.external.ExternalInterface class in ActionScript. Can it be used for accessing a smartcard reader or is the Sandbox impenetrable?
You can also have a look at this beta native plugin:
https://github.com/ubinity/webpcsc-firebreath
It is cross-browser/cross-pltaform plugin based on firebreath framework, exposing a subset of the PCSC API.
You can use a signed Java applet to access the reader. Signed applets are allowed to access hardware peripherials, the smartcard reader can be accessed via the Java Crypto API.
Hope this helps.
If you can access the smartcard on your file system, like when a USB drive is connected and appears as a separate disk, then you can simply use flash.net.FileReference.