What is NFC and how easy can you read NFC chips?

What is NFC?

"NFC" means "Near Field Communication". It is an international transmission standard based on RFID technology. In NFC data are transmitted by electromagnetic induction with the help of loosely coupled coils, the so-called "resonant circuits" over short distances. The transmission paths are limited to a few centimeters in the NFC technology. The transmission rate of the data is a maximum of 424 kilobits per second.

The basic idea for NFC:

Resonant circuit technology has been around for quite some time. It has previously been used in theft protection systems in shops. The quite long-wave technology has larger transmission paths but smaller data transmission rates. In the modern NFC application, however, opens up completely new possibilities. The basic idea for NFC is micropayment, which means paying small amounts without cash. These attempts by so-called "money cards", which can be conveniently coupled with the normal bank cards, have been around for some time.

Contd....

So far, however, cashless payment has not yet prevailed. In addition to the banks and savings banks, it is currently the universities that make these payment functions possible for their students for fees or canteen payments. Sometimes no other payment systems are already accepted. The amount of transferable sums is currently limited to around 25 euros. The stores are slowly catching up with upgrading NFC technology, but are still hesitant about it.

Contd....

Basically, NFC technology does not care what data it should transfer. It is already well advanced in the field of authentication and is widely used by key systems and timers of companies. The first NFC systems are also available in the new smart home applications. In Germany, however, one is still very hesitant in the area-wide employment. However, NFC is being used with increasing success in the area of ​​WLAN authentication. It is very helpful for sharing vouchers or setting up publicly accessible networks for user identification.

How easy can you read NFC chips?

Reading unprotected credit cards that have an NFC feature is very easy. All that is needed is a reader or a smartphone with a radio chip reading function. A reader now costs less than 20 euros. The smartphone can be upgraded to the reader by means of a free app. It is simply held close to the purse, such as a purse or jacket. Everything else goes automatically and without the owner noticing. This will show the thief the number and expiration date of the credit card. That's enough for online orders.
 

NFC protective cover:

The NFC protective cover is made of a special material that can shield the RFID chip in a credit or debit card. The material is known as "Cryptalloy", which translates to "Alloy for encryption". It was created as a random product, as exactly the opposite should be achieved: A protective cover, through which passes the radio signal of the chips easily. The Dutch manufacturer guards the composition and structure of the Cryptalloy film like the Holy Grail, but sells the final material to users. So it is also open to the public. 

Alternative: Cannot help yourself otherwise?

You can, but it does not make sense. A simple wrapping with aluminum foil has a dampening effect on RFID chips. The signal cannot be completely shielded. Theoretically, lead plates could also reduce the signal in its strength. However, this is impractical. Lead is very heavy and therefore uncomfortable to wear. The Cryptalloy film has so far proven to be the most effective and reliable material to attenuate the RFID signal.

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-field_communication
• https://rfid-sicherheit.com/nfc

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