when nfc operates in a peer to peer mode and because nfc enabled devices store personal information these devices are vulnerable to security breaches including cybercrime and digital pickpocketing 
hackers and cyber criminals can try to access nfc enabled devices they may develop malicious software that can steal confidential information from these devices furthermore hackers can create tokens that mimic an nfc enabled device and gain access to this sensitive information one of the primary uses for nfc technology today is pay by phone because nfc enabled phones are used frequently to make payments digital pickpockets could use these programs to steal credit card information from unsuspecting customers by intercepting payment information although cybercrime and digital pickpocketing are major vulnerabilities of nfc technology there are steps you can take to protect yourself first make sure that the nfc enabled devices you carry have the latest security features including 128 bit encryption and two factor authentication if you lose a device or suspect it has been compromised immediately change your passwords and disable all sharing and peer to peer sharing features nfc beyond the payment processwith its ever expanding boundaries near field communications have a wide variety of uses beyond simplifying and accelerating the payment process today hundreds of millions of contactless cards and readers worldwide use nfc technology in myriad applications from securing networks and buildings to monitoring inventory and sales preventing auto theft keeping tabs on library books and running unmanned toll booths nfc is behind the cards that we wave over card readers in subway turnstiles and on buses it is present in speakers household appliances and other electronic devices that we monitor and control through our smartphones with just a touch nfc can also set up wifi and bluetooth devices throughout our homes the first use of nfc technology was for contactless payment systems nfc enabled credit and debit cards were introduced in the early 2000s allowing customers to make payments by simply holding their card near a payment terminal nfcs offer near and long term solutionsnear field communications are proving useful in numerous industries and have far reaching implications in 2012 japan airlines otcmkts japsy became the first commercial airline worldwide to allow passengers to tap standard nfc phones to pass through boarding gates in lieu of paper boarding passes the customer experience in airports that use nfc technology is enhanced significantly as nfc can shorten the boarding of a 450 person plane to just 15 minutes a process that normally takes 40 minutes without the use of nfc in the hospitality industry a hotel may manage building and room access centrally in real time without the need for physical delivery of key cards instead you just hold your phone up to the door lock using nfc technology a hotel can send access rights to a guest s room directly to his or her mobile device in advance of their arrival an nfc hospitality application can include other functions too such as booking a room and skipping the check in phase 