PIV
PIV (Personal Identity Verification) is a smartcard authentication framework built into macOS that enables users to authenticate using PIV-compatible smartcards such as YubiKeys. The bundle com.centrify.tokend.piv is a system-level token daemon component that handles PIV smartcard communication at the OS level, allowing macOS to recognize and use smartcard credentials for login, SSH authentication, file signing, and encrypted file access. This is typically used by enterprise users, government employees, security professionals, and anyone requiring hardware-based identity verification.
AI Recommendation
1 suggestionThe com.centrify.tokend.piv bundle is a system component (token daemon) that is part of macOS's native PIV smartcard support, not a separate downloadable application. macOS itself — particularly versions 10.15 and newer — ships with full native support for PIV smartcards as part of the operating system, with no additional installation or update required. If your Mac is already running a current version of macOS, PIV support is natively available and will continue to work as Apple removes Rosetta 2 in macOS 28 (September 2028) because it is not dependent on Intel-only code. If you are setting up PIV authentication for the first time, ensure your macOS is fully up to date via System Settings → General → Software Update. If you are using a specific PIV token vendor's tools (such as Yubico's yubico-piv-tool), check that vendor's site for any native Apple Silicon updates, but the core PIV functionality built into macOS requires no action on your part.
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