MIFARE DESFire is a family of contactless smart card ICs (integrated circuits) that are used for a wide range of applications such as public transport, access control, and payment systems. The two versions, MIFARE DESFire EV1 and MIFARE DESFire EV2, have several differences in terms of features and capabilities:
MIFARE DESFire EV1:
- Memory Capacity: Available in 2 KB, 4 KB, and 8 KB variants.
- Security: Supports 3DES and AES encryption.
- Interoperability: Backward compatible with MIFARE Classic.
- Transaction Speed: Fast transaction speeds due to the use of a 3-pass authentication.
- Applications: Can support up to 28 different applications with 32 files each.
- File Management: Offers a flexible file structure with support for different file types (standard data files, backup files, value files, linear record files, and cyclic record files).
- User Privacy: Improved user privacy and data integrity through the use of cryptographic algorithms.
MIFARE DESFire EV2:
- Memory Capacity: Available in 2 KB, 4 KB, 8 KB, and now also in 16 KB variants.
- Security: Enhanced security with support for 3DES, AES, and the new EV2-specific security features like Transaction MAC (TMAC) and enhanced proximity check.
- Interoperability: Fully compatible with existing MIFARE DESFire EV1 installations.
- Transaction Speed: Further optimized for faster transaction speeds and reduced power consumption.
Applications: It can support an unlimited number of applications due to the new file and memory management system. - File Management: Enhanced file management with support for new file types and functionalities.
- User Privacy: Advanced privacy features, including the ability to change the UID (Unique Identifier) on every transaction to prevent tracking.
- Transaction Security: Introduction of Secure Messaging EV2 which provides increased security for data transactions.
- Key Management: Enhanced key management features with support for diversified keys and key rolling for improved security.
Key Improvements in EV2 Over EV1:
- Enhanced Security: The EV2 offers more advanced security features, including better encryption methods and transaction security.
- Increased Flexibility: EV2 provides greater flexibility in terms of application and file management.
- Improved Privacy: This EV2 card has advanced features to protect user privacy and prevent tracking.
- Backward Compatibility: Despite the new features, EV2 remains backward compatible with EV1, ensuring smooth transitions for existing systems.
- Greater Memory Options: The EV2 introduces a 16 KB memory variant, providing more options for complex applications.
- Summary: These both MIFARE DESFire EV1 and EV2 are robust and secure, EV2 introduces several enhancements. This makes it more secure, flexible, and capable of handling more complex applications.
