A semiconductor memory card comprising a control IC 302, a flash memory
303, and a ROM 304. The ROM 304 holds information such as a medium ID 341
unique to the semiconductor memory card. The flash memory 303 includes an
authentication memory 332 and a non-authentication memory 331. The
authentication memory 332 can be accessed only by external devices which
have been affirmatively authenticated. The non-authentication memory 331
can be accessed by external devices whether the external devices have
been affirmatively authenticated or not. The control IC 302 includes
control units 325 and 326, an authentication unit 321 and the like. The
control units 325 and 326 control accesses to the authentication memory
332 and the non-authentication memory 331, respectively. The
authentication unit 321 executes a mutual authentication with an external
device.