Comments on: Microsoft confirms untapped Windows Phone NFC support

By: Scott Sprich

Scott Sprich — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:59:00 +0000

I think it’s great. I just think we all have to be conscious of our own security when we inevitably start using NFC phones for everything. It is just a matter of when. Just like we weren’t going to join Twitter because who cares about what we’re doing or join Facebook for whatever reason. We’ll use it, it will become the norm and if a good hacker wants your information then they will get it anyway, just don’t make it easy on them. Prey like easy targets, not hard ones, don’t be easy.

By: Prasad Golla

Prasad Golla — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:43:00 +0000

I partially agree with you all, it takes sometime to stabilize things, doesn’t mean Android will be a disaster. If you look at what Android has given out for NFCs (open source) are just some libraries, the code to these modules will not be released. Moreover you don’t need to trust Google on this. The secure element inside the NFCs does the magic of storing you money in the phone, these are tamper proof, high secure stuff like the SIM cards for example comign from external vendors and not even the phone manufacturer. I wouldn’t say they can’t be hacked, everything in the world is hackable, it just depends on how much effort we are willing to put to crack it.
I am from Asia, in the conservative society, credit card was not that acceptable 10 to 15 years ago, but today I assume 90% of Singaporeans have atleast 10 to 15 cards. The same in India and China, a wide acceptance of cards.
I am atleast looking to get rid of these wallets, if not atleast my transportation card. All it takes is another 5 years, hope one day you will agree with me :) Have a good day guys.

By: Mark Jones

Mark Jones — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Really valid comments — the primary security concern with Android is in the fragility of the OS security, not in NFC security protocols themselves. Malware is relatively easy to write and install on the Android (duh) for various reasons. To elucidate the dramatic security differences between Android and all other portable device OS platforms would require a long and rather detailed technical article in its own right. Suffice it to say that if Android users began to have NFC payment capability, the hackers will be all over that like a duck on a june-bug.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Yep I only need the NFC to transfer data like websites and contacts between devices. I will stick to my debit card and cash for payments. I will not use a phone for making a payment in replace of a debit card. I just feel there is no enough security be it WP7 or iOS. I will not have an Android phone again, my first and last android phone is the one I have right now. Just let me transfer internet data, and saved files on either a phone or tablet back and forth. i.e. spreadsheets, favorites, current websites opened. Nothing more than that for me.

By: Mark Jones

Mark Jones — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:26:00 +0000

The OEM (or carrier) may not allow certain functions for various reasons, including hardware limitations, support costs, carrier plan restrictions, legal liability, etc. Just because an OS supports certain features does not guarantee the user that those features are available on their specific configuration. This has always been true of PCs, and it will be true of other computing devices such as phones and tablets. If you don’t like being told what you can do with your hardware, then either don’t buy the hardware or implement your own.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:48:00 +0000

How is it OEM gets to tell me what hardware and software is or is not enabled on my god d__n phone.
Once you sell something it is no longer your if you want to retain the phone rent then dont sell them.

It getting real annoying out here on what I am be told to do with my own sh it.

By: Mark Jones

Mark Jones — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:59:00 +0000

“When”, not “if”, NFC becomes commonly-used, routing payment info automatically through a smartphone is going to be both irresistable and dangerous — irresistable because of the ease of use for the consumer, dangerous because of the ease of use for the hacker.

Both iOS and WP7 have strengths in the security area, so identity/financial theft is not problematic, although it remains an ongoing concern. However, any flavor of Android is a personal disaster waiting to happen, since this OS is about as safe as a hooker waiting for the right Joe. If you’re an Android customer who likes ice cream sandwiches, and who also can’t resist automatic transactions, God help you. You’re going to need it.