NTRU Cryptosystems has created a public key security solution to help vendors and developers secure radio frequency identification (RFID) and contactless applications.

The NTRU GenuID cryptosystem addresses what the company says has been the main problem with RFID products to date: Sensitive transactions have been impossible to secure. The technology enables identification, authentication, and physical access control. It protects personal information stored on a card or other contactless device to prevent unauthorized access or alteration.

GenuID lets you use contactless devices and platforms to protect systems and applications such as payment, ticketing, and transit. For example, in a transit application, NTRU GenuID could let passengers pay for admission using a card or key fob. Other usage examples include airline security checkpoint and border crossings, NTRU says.

A key requirement for securing RFID applications is efficiency. The GenuID is designed to provide tight security on small RFID devices by leaving a small footprint -- even on US$0.50 tokens or tags, says NTRU.

Components include the following:

• NTRU GenuID Hardware Core, which incorporates public key security into cost- and space-constrained semiconductors
• NTRU GenuID Software for Chip Cards, which lets public key security run on low-cost microcontrollers without cryptographic co-processors
• GenuID toolkits for readers and back-end servers