Which device plugs into a standard computer port to identify the owner?

• A. USB token
• B. One-time-password token
• C. Magnetic stripe card
• D. Smart card

Answer: (A)

Placing a hardware token into a computer port provides a direct, portable proof of ownership that the system can verify for authentication. A USB token stores credentials or performs a cryptographic challenge-response, so when you insert it, the computer can confirm who you are tied to that device. This “something you have” factor is instant, user-specific, and hard to spoof, which is why it’s the best fit for identifying the owner.

By contrast, a one-time-password token typically generates a code you enter manually, not something the computer automatically recognizes upon plugging in. A magnetic stripe card requires swiping through a reader, not plugging into a port. A smart card needs a card reader as well, and while the reader may connect by USB, the card itself isn’t the plug-in device identifying the user.