WHAT IS MIFARE DESFIRE?

MIFARE DESFire is a family of smart cards consisting of the EV1 and the EV2 chip. The chips of these innovative cards contain a full microprocessor with robust security features and are designed to work with multiple manufacturers and systems. The cards have been created based on global standards and function as a scalable, contactless solution for a multitude of applications, such as access, identity, loyalty, transportation and closed-loop micropayments for system operators and solution developers. MIFARE DESFire cards are also fully Near Field Communication (NFC) compatible and contain mutual three pass authentication with a backup management system built into each chip. The DESFire family of cards are both convenient and flexible, offering reliability and security as well as increased transfer rates and consumer-friendly design.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EV1 SMART CARD AND THE EV2?

APPLICATION LIMITS

MIFARE DESFire EV1 can hold up to 28 different applications and 32 files per application. The size of these files can be determined when they are created, which limits the card's flexibility and offers users more control over the size of the files and the number of applications compared to previous models. MIFARE DESFire EV2, however, can hold an unlimited number of applications, depending on the memory size, and after the product is in the field, new applications can be loaded, remotely. For enhanced interoperability, the purse can even be shared between applications.

OPERATING DISTANCE AND DATA PROCESSING

Compared to the MIFARE DESFire EV1, the latest MIFARE DESFire chip, the EV2, offers a greater operating distance. The 70pF version enables the read range optimisations of small antenna form factors, as well as the perfect balance between cost-efficiency, performance and speed. The EV2's open concept allows room for the seamless future integration of alternate media, such as key fobs, mobile ticketing, smart paper tickets and IDs using Near Field Communication technology (NFC). MIFARE DESFire is also compatible with the MIFARE reader hardware platform and data transfer speeds are faster than ever, at 848 Kbit/s.

SECURITY

MIFARE DESFire EV2 is certified with EAL5+ security, which means that it has the same level of security as the chips used in e-passports and banking cards. It also meets global standards for cryptographic methods and air interfaces, while its Virtual Smart Card architecture anticipates future privacy protection requirements. Its Proximity Check feature is created to protect the card against any relay attacks and the Key management system is a significant upgrade from the EV1, giving it the ability to issue a version of the Master Key to third parties.

If you're looking to implement the use of smart cards in your organization, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team at Universal Smart Cards today and we can provide you with the latest smart card technology. Simply give us a call on +1 800 8110 4959 or drop us an email to sales@usmartcards.com and one of our friendly experts will be happy to assist you.