NFC on Android
BEAM ME UP ANDY.
IN RECENT ARTICLES we have detailed how to set up Google Pay (previously Android Pay), and have touched on other uses of Near Field Communication, so let’s have a closer look.
NFC is a way for your phone to interact with other NFC-enabled devices in close proximity. It operates over a distance of just a few centimetres and provides a connection between the devices using induction rather than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This is the same technology as wireless charging, and the limited range makes it extra secure. It also means that one device can be passive with no power source of its own, such as smart cards or security and access tags.
Among other things, NFC lets your smartphone double as a contactless credit or debit card, a transport card, and even a building access tag. It can also be used to transfer data or files directly between devices, which can be very useful.
TURN NFC AND ANDROID BEAM ON
To get started, find NFC in your device’s Settings – usually under Connections or Networks – and activate it. You will also need to switch Android Beam on; it’s in a sub-menu on some phones such as Samsung. Many smartphone manufacturers also have their own phone-to-phone communication systems, such as Samsung S-Beam and LG SmartShare Beam, but these are not widely used.
ANDROID BEAM
Let’s start by looking at simply sharing content between devices via Android Beam. Beam was introduced in 2011’s Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), so as long as your device has NFC capabilities you can be pretty sure it has Android Beam as well.
Android Beam has actually been discontinued in Android 10, replaced with a more comprehensive function called Fast Share, which is similar to Wi-Fi Direct and Apple’s AirDrop. But most of us will have Android Beam on our devices for some years
yet, and it has some great capabilities.
Using Android Beam is very simple. Open the content you want to share on your device, and put it back-to-back with the other device. As long as both are unlocked and have NFC and Beam activated a connection will be established, and in a few seconds your screen content will shrink a little and you will be asked if you wish to Beam the content to the other device. Tap the prompt to begin the transfer.
Note that NFC communication is not fast, so the devices will need to stay close for more than a few seconds. If they move apart briefly the transfer will normally pause then resume when they are close enough.
Why would you use Android Beam?
* To share contact info: just open a contact on your phone, touch it to the other phone, and tap to Beam a copy.
* Share a photo or video, immediately, at full resolution. * Share a location or directions.
* Copy individual files from one device to the other. Note that the receiving device will sometimes ask what app to use or what to do with the incoming information, and at times just can’t work it out!
GOOGLE PAY
NFC lets you load multiple credit and debit cards into Google Pay and leave the plastic at home. You set a default payment card on your device, and just tap the supermarket or coffee shop EFTPOS terminal with your phone rather than the card. It works well, and seems faster than your average contactless card. You can store your loyalty and points cards too, even some transport cards.
For more information on Google Pay look back a couple of issues to our article on Paying with Android. To get Google Pay, search for it at the Google Play Store, download and install.
NFC SECURITY
Keeping your contactless cards on your smartphone is generally more secure than carrying the plastic, but here is a quick summary of how to play it safe:
* Turn off NFC if you are in an insecure location or won’t be using your phone for payments.
* Add NFC to Quick Settings so you don’t have to dive into menus to switch on and off.
* Make sure your screen is off before putting in your pocket – this stops pocket calls too. * Don’t carry an unlocked smartphone – keep it securely locked.
* Be aware of anyone “shoulder surfing” to watch you entering your pin, password or pattern, or using a portable reader to access your phone or cards.
* Lock or wipe your phone if it’s lost or stolen.
* Never load cards or private information through public Wi-Fi.
* Use credit cards as your default payment options so you are not liable for fraudulent transactions. * Be careful of the apps you download.
* Be aware of phone security in general, as described in our TechLife 87 article:
ACCESS CARDS AND SECURITY TAGS
Despite claims that you can duplicate almost any NFC card or tag onto a smartphone, it’s not that simple. Access control systems tend to use proprietary formats and encryption on a wide range of frequencies. We tested half a dozen contactless card cloning apps, and without specific information on the manufacturer of the cards or tags the apps could not recognise them.
The bottom line is that to clone simple tags like the HID building access one in our earlier photo you need some additional scanner hardware. Basic versions of these scanners can be purchased on eBay for less than $50. But cloned tags don’t have any additional capabilities, and can be cancelled just as easily as the genuine items, so it might not be worth the time and money.
The latest generation of building access tags use strong encryption that is currently unbreakable. However, the scanner apps had no difficulty identifying and cloning simpler systems such as a Sydney OPAL transport card, which now resides on my Samsung.
The real test will be when it gets checked by the transport police!
YOU SET A DEFAULT PAYMENT CARD ON YOUR DEVICE, AND JUST TAP THE SUPERMARKET OR COFFEE SHOP EFTPOS TERMINAL WITH YOUR PHONE RATHER THAN THE CARD. IT WORKS WELL, AND SEEMS FASTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE CONTACTLESS CARD.