The MIFARE® DESFire® family, developed by NXP, includes several versions, notably EV1 and EV2. While both are designed for secure contactless transactions, they differ in several key aspects:
1. Application Capacity:
- EV1: Supports up to 28 distinct applications, with each application capable of containing up to 32 files.
- EV2: Offers the ability to host an unlimited number of applications, constrained only by the chip’s memory capacity. Additionally, new applications can be added even after the card has been issued, enhancing flexibility.
2. Security Enhancements:
- Certification Level: EV1 is certified at EAL4+, whereas EV2 boasts a higher certification of EAL5+, indicating enhanced security measures.
- Proximity Check: Exclusive to EV2, this feature safeguards against relay attacks by confirming the card’s proximity to the reader.
- Advanced Key Management: EV2 introduces a more sophisticated key management system, allowing for the delegation of application management to third parties without compromising the master key’s security.