With digital technologies becoming more seamlessly intertwined with our everyday lives, keeping up with what’s new or emerging can be tricky.
Let’s examine near-field communication—what it is, how it is used, and how you can stay safe should you encounter it in nefarious circumstances.
The Rise Of NFC And Smart Devices
Near-field communication (NFC) has become very popular. Nowadays, most new smartphones and smartwatches come with built-in NFC chips, allowing us to use this exciting technology immediately.
But what exactly is it? And if you run into someone using NFC for malicious reasons, how can you protect yourself and your data? We’ve got a few simple tips to share.
What is NFC?
NFC is a short-range, high-frequency wireless technology that uses an electromagnetic field to communicate with other devices within four and ten centimetres in range. NFC itself does not have the power to speak; instead, it is used by embedding this technology into other devices, such as smartphones, to provide power to the NFC technology.
Pre-programmed NFC items such as tags, smart cards, and stickers are also available, and the power of the connecting device is used during the scan.
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What Are The Risks Of Using NFC?
Every technology has its pros and cons and specific security concerns. As consumers, it is better to understand the technology and risks involved to protect yourself against potential threats.
NFC is relatively secure, given it can only communicate with another NFC-enabled device within a short proximity, making it harder for an attacker to intercept. Attacking NFC can be quite a challenge; however, there are a few well-known security concerns to keep an eye out for:
- Eavesdropping on transactions
- Data manipulation or Corruption – Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack.
- Service Interruptions – Denial-of-service attack (DoS) attack.
For example, even though contactless payment transactions are encrypted, an attacker can try various techniques to decrypt the traffic and access the information. While awareness of these cyber security concerns is essential, they are considered part of the NFC technology design and ecosystem. Therefore, mitigation of such risk is out of consumer control.
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NFC Security Steps: How To Keep Your Data Safe
Although there are some security concerns that consumers cannot avoid, you do have the ability to make intelligent decisions about your use of NFC – to protect yourself against any potential threats:
It is important to keep your device operating system software up to date as the vendors regularly release patches for the latest vulnerabilities, with improved security, and performance.
1. Keep Your Device Software Up To Date
Regular software updates also fix bugs and glitches that could hinder your device’s performance or cause apps to crash unexpectedly. Additionally, updated OS versions often include new features and enhancements that improve usability and overall experience. Skipping updates could make your device incompatible with newer applications, reducing efficiency.
2. Turn Off NFC When Not In Use
Disabling NFC when not in use reduces the risk of unauthorised access or accidental data transfers, especially in crowded public spaces where malicious actors can exploit the technology. Additionally, turning off NFC helps minimise background processes, further conserving your device’s battery. It’s also a good habit to regularly check your device’s settings to ensure that NFC or any other wireless communications are only active when necessary, enhancing security.
Utilise Cloud Services For Data Backups
In addition to protecting your device physically, safeguarding your data is essential. Using cloud services ensures that your data is regularly backed up, allowing you to restore it easily in case of a loss or breach. Cloud services also often provide additional security features that help protect your data from unauthorised access.
3. Password-Protect Your Device
Many of us leave our smart devices unlocked for easy access, but this isn’t a wise choice given the rise of cyber threats. Using a strong password on your smartphone and keeping your smartwatch locked ensures that no one—even family members or partners — can make unauthorised contactless payments without your knowledge.
4. Install Antivirus Protection On Your Device
Picture this: you scan an NFC tag, maybe a smart card or sticker, and your device automatically navigates to a spam website and downloads a malicious application —there’s nothing you can do to stop it. That scenario is precisely why you should install antivirus software before you use NFC. Antivirus software ensures that malicious viruses and other nasties can’t sneak into your device when NFC is activated.
Take these simple steps to protect yourself, and you’ll be an NFC expert.
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Check out more in our cyber tip series on our website and find out more about PROTECT+ by Kinetic IT.
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