Security for contactless single-use applications advanced

NXP Semiconductors has released the most secure member of its MIFARE Ultralight family. The MIFARE Ultralight AES utilises standard AES authentication with Common Criteria EAL3+ security certification to provide privacy and security to limited-use contactless tickets, RFID basic guest cards and other limited-use contactless applications.

The solution employs cryptography with sufficient key length recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for secure authentication and protected data access with the option to limit negative authentication attempts, producing more secure implementations for guest protection and secure room access or as a secure transport ticket in smart cities. The new ICs use the same memory structure within the family, making it simple for developers to deliver advanced security in limited use ticketing applications quickly.

“From hotel key cards to transport and event tickets, we’re making it easier for developers to implement secure, contactless access at scale,” said Andre Perchthaler, segment manager, MIFARE Smart Cities, NXP. “By taking advantage of a single, standard-based encryption method, such as AES, service providers have the benefit of greater fraud prevention while also being able to streamline integration and key management. With MIFARE Ultralight AES, the full MIFARE product portfolio offering now serves AES authentication from single-use up through multi-applications, simplifying access infrastructure, and reducing complexity and maintenance costs.”