An Introduction to NFC
Henry Angwatanapanich
If you’ve paid for your groceries with Apple Pay or Google Pay, then chances are that you’ve already used NFC technology before. It is a crucial part of our lives in this era, and you probably use it daily without realising it. NFC will only grow in use as time passes, and it is the perfect moment to learn what it is, its uses, and how this technology may be used along with blockchain to improve security soon.
Chain 1: What is NFC?
NFC, or Near-Field-Communication technology, isn’t a new type of technology. Instead, NFC utilises RFID (radio frequency identification) technology, which has been around since the 1980s. RFID permits communication that can be scanned through objects and walls, unlike other technology, for example, barcodes. NFC is a subset of that, using high-frequency radio waves (13.56 MHz) that can only communicate at a very short distance. NFC chips can store electronic data and communicate with the reader using a small antenna embedded.
Chain 2: What are its advantages?
NFC was created using a similar technology to RFID. However, its distinguishing feature is that the range of NFC is limited to only around 4 inches. This means an increase in security, as users will have to essentially ‘tap’ the two terminals to each other for it to work. Although the distance may be short, the terminals don’t have to touch, so NFC tags can still be read through thin obstacles.
Another great advantage of NFC is that only the reader requires a power source. This means that NFC chips do not need any batteries or need to recharge to operate. Therefore, along with its naturally small size, integrating NFC chips into products can be seamless.
Chain 3: Where is it used?
Today, NFC technology is widespread. On modern-day smartphones, almost all have this useful chip. Instead of waiting in a long queue, users can just wave their phones near a scanner, and the NFC reads and verifies the information in a split second. With NFC technology giving us a much smoother and more sustainable experience when travelling and entering events, our lives have become just that much easier.
Another situation where NFC can be found in many contactless payment systems, such as credit cards and mobile payment apps. This allows consumers to complete transactions and pay without using any physical cash – all you must do is tap. When paying even for the smallest of things, like your cup of morning coffee, NFC can make life much easier.
Chain 4: NFC and sensitive information
Like all technology that stores sensitive information, NFC needs to have some sort of security. Many say that NFC is already secure by nature, due to its short range of operation. This means if a hacker wants to steal your information, they will have to get very close.
Even though NFC already has some form of protection, it still does not stop criminals from finding a way to steal your personal information. Hackers can reprogram tags to bypass encryptions and load malicious code into them, possibly stealing important information stored. Since NFC uses radio waves to transfer information, this can happen in less than a second, and you won’t notice that something’s wrong until it’s too late.
There are a few ways to protect yourself from getting your information stolen. The easiest solution is to simply not use NFC. This removes the risk of NFC theft completely but also the convenience of it too. The next best way is, if possible, disabling your NFC when not in use, preventing unwanted transactions and accidental bumps that can be a threat. It’s also recommended to routinely check for malware to catch any data leaks before too much damage has been done.
Chain 5: Blockchain and NFC
Blockchain allows for increased security, reliability and transparency to all kinds of systems. However, this system is operated in the digital space only, needing a way to connect to the physical world.
NFC are now the standard technology for many data transfer systems, connecting physical objects to the digital world. Since NFC is susceptible to tampering, however, some form of security is needed, and blockchain is perfect for that.
Combining NFC with blockchain brings out the best of both worlds: an easy way for users to utilise digital information while offering great security that one can trust. While each of these technology can be used individually, a hybrid NFC-blockchain system has great potential to revolutionise many industries.
Conclusion
NFC is already an important part of our daily lives. It’s used all around us, even if you don’t realise it. However, like any other digital technology, hackers can steal important and sensitive information from NFC tags if unprotected, and so using NFC along with blockchain can prove crucial for consumers’ security and privacy in the near future.
