How to use mobile NFC safely

There are many people who already have the possibility of making mobile payments or using NFC with their smartphone, but they do not do so for fear that their bank details, their personal information will be stolen or due to insecurity in the use of this technology, without know that in addition to being comfortable, it is generally quite safe.

Today, NFC is an increasingly well-known short-range, high-frequency wireless communication technology that has been created to exchange data from two nearby devices, with a maximum range of 15 cm. These devices must be in close proximity to each other. In addition to mobile payments, its best known use, it can be used as an electronic ID reader, to automate actions, to improve synchronization between devices, access certain content and many other uses.

How to use mobile NFC safely

Therefore, we are going to give some small guidelines to use the NFC of the mobile in a comfortable and safe way , so that if your phone has this functionality you can use it without fear.

Classic Security Methods

Paying with your mobile phone is much safer than it may seem, as much or more than doing it with your own credit or debit card. In fact, in addition to other security options, as we will know in the case of NFC and other forms of payment, to pay by default you have to unlock the mobile with the unlocking method you have. In this case, it can be a pattern, PIN, or fingerprint. While the PIN is a security code with numbers that you have to write, the pattern is used by sliding your finger in a certain way and the fingerprint by pressing the finger that has been registered on the reader.

Desbloqueo móvil

Although the fingerprint may be the most secure way to lock the mobile and secure payments, especially since it is not an identification method that can be discovered or guessed, the other security methods are also a good way to guarantee payments. phone as long as these are not predictable or easy to discover by the environment or people nearby.

One of the advantages of the PIN in online purchases is that it must be confirmed in purchases over a certain amount, so even if they do not ask for it in certain payments, thieves will not be able to make purchases with very high expenses . However, when using NFC, it is very difficult or almost unlikely that they can make a payment without your consent.

Enable the use of Secure NFC

If you want to use NFC securely on a compatible smartphone that has this functionality, you must enable the use of Secure NFC or Secure NFC. Through this, the chip will only be activated when the screen of your phone is unlocked and will only be visible when others have it active, for example, when you are going to make a payment or a data transfer. Thus, you will avoid making a payment without wanting to and without realizing it, as can happen in the event that you approach a POS terminal. Although both must be close, it could be the case, so it does not hurt that you have this option activated.

If you want to do it, what you have to do on your smartphone is go to Settings, Connection Preferences and give Secure NFC.

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Activate it only when you need it

You can also enable NFC if you haven’t already, just above this option. However, another way to use it safely if you use it occasionally or tend to be wary of what might happen, what you can do is just enable it when you are going to use it and then disable it again.

It can be inconvenient if you use it several times a day, but not so much if you are going to make occasional payments with your mobile or once you have got used to this habit.

Only use safe apps

If you want to use this technology safely, there is nothing better than doing it only with safe and trusted applications. Manufacturers have secure and encrypted payment services, so it is best to use these and no other. Known secure payment services are Google Pay, Samsung Pay or Apple Pay , which also stand out for using tokenization for safer payments.

You can also trust the application of your bank , as long as it is recognized and not one that you just met and know little about, and payment services such as Bizum. If you are going to install a new application, check the options and the credibility of this, although it is not highly recommended that you do it if you do not know it and you really know that it is totally safe. The best thing is to resort to those that we have commented previously.

google pay pago nfc

Only in places and with people you trust

If you are going to make payments with your mobile or use the NFC for another of the possible uses it may have, only do it with companies, entities, places and people you trust. Don’t use it with someone you’ve just met, someone who’s offering you a big deal that’s too good to be true, if they don’t offer you other payment options, or in situations where it might not be safe to use NFC.

In case of doubts, or if you do not have total security in the transaction, it is best to resort to other alternative options to NFC, such as paying in cash or simply doing nothing, among the different possibilities that could be proposed to you at the time .

Increase the security of your mobile

It is worth worrying about the security of your mobile device, with the operating system updated, the applications in their latest version and doing a malware scan from time to time to see that everything is correct. Having a good antivirus system on your mobile will help you keep it safe and avoid possible risks that can occur on it, not only when using NFC, but in many other cases.