secure element (NFC) (SE)

A Secure Element(SE) is a chip of a smartphone or part of the SIM card. It provides the necessary security and confidentiality for mobile applications such as mobile commerce, mobile payment, mobile banking or mobile security.

The Secure Element is part of the smartphone operating system and hardware, and part of the SIM card. Only authorized programs and users such as banks and credit institutions can access this area. Payment information is stored on it and it acts as a firewall between NFC payment and other smartphone components. Neither the operating system nor apps stored on the smartphone can read or copy this information. The NFC SIM card contains a secret key that cannot be read and is used to secure transactions. Access to the Secure Element is only possible via trusted apps.