Have you noticed an N symbol appearing at the top of your smartphone screen? It may offer benefits you may not know about.
The screen of our smartphones is made up of many icons, some more familiar than others. They are usually found in the area called “Status Bar”, visible when you slide the home screen from top to bottom with your finger. In addition to basic shortcuts like the time or the type of mobile plan, you can also see if Bluetooth is activated, if tethering is in progress, or if the “energy saving” mode is affecting the battery.
In addition to the usual symbols located in the status bar, other icons can sometimes appear on the screen without knowing their true meaning. This is particularly the case with the N logo, more commonly called NFC. NFC, an acronym for the English “Near Field Communication” (Near Field Communication) allows short-range wireless data sharing between compatible devices. This technology is mainly used for contactless payment and validation of transport tickets. Thus, by bringing your mobile close to a payment terminal or a ticket control device, you are using NFC technology. Many Android and IOS smartphones are now equipped with it, but you still need to know how to use it.
To enable NFC on Android, start by going to your phone’s settings. Once in the app, select the “Connection” menu and “Sharing” or “Connected devices” depending on your device model. Then tap on “Connection preferences” and then “NFC”. Finally, simply toggle the switch to enable or disable the option depending on your needs.
As for iOS users, the option has already been integrated since the release of the iPhone 6 model. This is probably why the icon does not appear at the top of your screen. And like any option, it is possible to deactivate it by going to the settings of your device. In any case, be aware that most recent smartphones offer a shortcut to activate and deactivate NFC. You can find it by browsing the notifications panel located at the top of your screen.
Be careful, using NFC involves risks. Its use is very secure, but the risk of being a victim of data theft is never eliminated. Some malicious individuals circumvent the problem of device proximity by using sophisticated means, such as antennas hidden behind stickers, extending the field or installing viruses. As a security measure, we recommend that you disable NFC when you are not using it.