UPSC Prelims 2015 Question:

With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields.
2. NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other.
3. NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.
   
   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Explanation:

Near-field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless technology that makes your smartphone, tablet, wearables, payment cards, and other devices even smarter. Near-field communication is the ultimate in connectivity.

• Near-field communication transmits data through electromagnetic radio fields to enable two devices to communicate with each other. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• To work, both devices must contain NFC chips, as transactions take place within a very short distance. NFC-enabled devices must be either physically touching or within a few centimeters of each other for data transfer to occur. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• NFC uses 128-bit or higher encryption to guarantee security and privacy of transactions. Because NFC uses tokenization instead of storing credit card information, for example, no retailer can see your credit card number. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.  

Subject: Science & Technology | Recent Developments