Link Protection on the Interactive Paper
Interactive Paper is a cutting‑edge innovation that combines the physicality of traditional paper with the dynamic capabilities of digital technology. This integration is achieved through the incorporation of a Near Field Communication (NFC) coil and buttons into the paper itself. When these buttons are pressed and a mobile phone is placed on the paper, a link is sent to the phone via NFC. But what makes this technology even more secure and exclusive is the feature we call Link Protection. Let's delve deeper into what this means and how it works.
What is Link Protection?
Link Protection is a security feature designed to ensure that web content accessed through the Interactive Paper cannot be viewed or shared outside of its intended physical context. Only those who physically interact with the Interactive Paper by pressing a button and scanning via NFC can access the content. This provides a strong level of exclusivity and personalization.
How to Enable Link Protection
To enable Link Protection for a specific campaign, follow these steps:
Navigate to the Settings tab in the top navigation bar.
Scroll down to the Security section.
Under Link protection, toggle the setting to "Enable".
Click Save to apply your changes.
When enabled, this setting ensures that only users interacting with the physical paper product can access the campaign’s digital content.
How Link Protection Works
Link Protection combines NFC technology, unique URL tokens, and browser cookies:
Unique Link Generation: Each button on the Interactive Paper contains a unique NFC-stored link.
Cookie-Based Session Validation: When the link is triggered, a session cookie is set on the user’s device.
Server-Side Verification: The web server verifies the presence of the cookie. If absent (e.g., due to link sharing), the content is not accessible.
Automatic Expiration: Cookies are short-lived and tied to the specific device/session that scanned the NFC chip.
Note on NFC Scanner Apps
While the system is designed for secure access, it’s important to know:
If someone uses a third-party NFC scanner app, they could technically copy the raw URL transmitted by the chip. However, this alone will not grant access — the protection mechanism relies on the presence of a valid cookie, which is only set during a proper NFC scan interaction. This limitation is not unique to Interactive Paper but inherent to how NFC technology works.
Why NFC Is More Secure Than QR Codes
Compared to QR codes, NFC offers notable security advantages:
Shorter Range: NFC requires physical proximity (a few centimeters), making it less susceptible to remote interception. QR codes can be photographed or scanned from across the room.
Less Visible: NFC chips are embedded and invisible, unlike QR codes which are exposed and can be duplicated or tampered with.
Encrypted & Dynamic Communication: NFC supports encrypted, session-based exchanges, whereas QR codes usually carry static, readable links.
In short: QR codes can be copied with a camera, NFC interactions must happen in real-time, with physical access, adding a valuable layer of protection.