To log in to a BlackBerry device, a user must generate a security token. By default, BlackBerry device users type a password to authenticate their identity and to generate a corresponding security token. BlackBerry® devices that run BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 or later also support custom user authentication modules.

You must create a user authentication module to use additional hardware such as a smart card or biometric device for authentication purposes. The security framework on the BlackBerry device uses your user authentication module to interact with the hardware.

For more information about custom user authentication and the net.rim.device.api.userauthenticator package, see the API reference for the BlackBerry® Java® Development Environment.