At its Galaxy S21 Unpacked event earlier this year, Samsung announced a series of partnerships with automakers. The Genesis GV60 will become the first vehicle to showcase the innovative new technology when it launches in September, starting in Korea.

Samsung’s digital key is powered by advanced UWB technology, a short-range, wireless communication protocol that uses radio waves to operate, much like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. However, UWB transmits radio waves at a much higher frequency, enabling highly accurate spatial awareness and directional capabilities that allow mobile devices to understand their surroundings better.

UWB enables passive entry, so you can say goodbye to digging through your pockets and bags in search of your keys. You’ll be able to lock and unlock your car, start the engine, open the trunk and even activate personalized settings like adjusting your seat and mirror position before you enter the car — all through your smartphone and without pushing a button. If you’re lending your car to a friend or family member for a short period, you can easily share the digital key and even set a time limit on how long the shared key will be available to them.⁴

The solution uses Samsung’s embedded Secure Element (eSE), designed to protect your most sensitive information and encryption keys, so you never have to worry about your keys falling into the wrong hands. The precision of UWB technology also stops potential relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted. Samsung’s digital key is fully compliant with the digital key standard as defined by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), in which Samsung has been one of the driving members.

“We are proud to partner with Genesis as part of our mission to create exciting new mobile experiences that can make people’s everyday lives easier,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “As we continue to drive advancements in mobile technology like UWB, our priority is now to bring these new experiences to as many people as possible, in collaboration with our trusted ecosystem partners.”

“GV60 will set the bar for luxurious electric vehicle representing the electrification of the Genesis brand,” said Albert Biermann, President and head of R&D division at Hyundai Motor Group. “The partnership with Samsung Electronics will strengthen our efforts to provide truly differentiated experiences for our customers to interact with Genesis vehicles.”

Samsung’s digital key will be available in NFC and UWB with the Genesis GV60 initially in Korea by the end of this year. The UWB digital key is compatible with Galaxy S21+ and Ultra, Note20 Ultra and Z Fold2 and 3. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/levant/apps/samsung-pass/ or www.genesis.com/worldwide/en/models/luxury-suv-genesis/gv60/highlights.html.

About Genesis

Genesis is a global luxury automotive brand that delivers the highest standards of performance, design, safety and innovation while looking towards a more sustainable future. Genesis designs customer experiences that go beyond products, embodying audacious, progressive and distinctly Korean characteristics within its unique “Athletic Elegance” design identity. With a growing range of luxury models — including the G90, G80, G70, GV60, GV70, and GV80 — Genesis aims to lead the age of electrification by focusing on a dual electrification strategy involving fuel-cell and battery EVs, starting with its G80 and GV60 electric models. Genesis has stated its commitment to becoming a 100% zero emission vehicle brand by 2030 and to pursuing carbon neutrality by 2035. Since its initial launch in Korea, Genesis has emerged in key global markets including North America, Europe, China, Australia, Russia, and the Middle East, establishing a strong relationship with customers around the world. For more information, please visit the official website at https://www.genesis.com.

¹ Eligible Galaxy smartphone with Android OS R and above

² Digital key feature will be available within this year.

³ Digital key is shared via Samsung Pass app. Those who do not have Samsung Pass app on the device should install Samsung Pass app prior to use. Key sharing is only available in eligible Galaxy smartphones with Android R and above. UWB is only available in Galaxy S21+ and Ultra, Note20 Ultra and Z Fold2 and 3.

⁴ Digital key is shared via Samsung Pass app. Those who do not have Samsung Pass app on the device should install Samsung Pass app prior to use. Key sharing is only available in eligible Galaxy smartphones with Android R and above. UWB is only available in Galaxy S21+ and Ultra, Note20 Ultra and Z Fold2 and 3.

Leading the Way in Mobile Security

Samsung prides itself in offering unmatched security to its users with Samsung Knox, its defense-grade security platform and cutting-edge technologies such as the industry’s strongest security chip, the embedded Secure Element (eSE);² a Secure Processor to protect against physical attacks; and the recently introduced Knox Vault, which adds another layer of security. As one of the few companies to design and develop its own products, software and services, Samsung offers true end-to-end protection, from the moment new product planning begins until a product is retired. By embedding security across every single layer of its devices, from the chip all the way up to the apps, Samsung can protect personal information in real-time and preemptively respond to increasingly advanced mobile threats.

“At Samsung, our number one priority is offering the best and most secure mobile experience to our users, and we’re constantly optimizing the security of our products and services,” said Seungwon Shin, VP & Head of Security Team at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “Mobile devices play such an important role in our lives, it’s only natural that we want to hold onto them longer. That’s why, thanks to the latest technology advancements, we’re committing to securing Galaxy devices for even longer, so that everything that should be kept protected stays protected.”

Securing Over 130 Models

Over the past decade, Samsung has made significant progress in streamlining and speeding up its regular security updates. Samsung worked closely with its OS and chipset partners, as well as over 200 carriers around the world to ensure that billions of Galaxy devices receive timely security patches. Samsung remains committed to offering security updates as quickly as possible to always stay one step ahead and keep its users safe.

A Collaborative Approach to Mobile Security

Samsung believes openness and collaboration are critical to offering the best mobile experiences that people can trust. Samsung has worked closely with over 1,000 partners to establish security standards for all Android devices, including the first-of-its-kind regular security update program in 2015, and partnered with the broader security research community to ensure consumers have the most secure mobile experience possible.

Eligible Galaxy Devices Include:³

• Galaxy Foldable devices: Fold, Fold 5G, Z Fold2, Z Fold2 5G, Z Flip, Z Flip 5G
• Galaxy S series: S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, S10 Lite, S20, S20 5G, S20+, S20+ 5G, S20 Ultra, S20 Ultra 5G, S20 FE, S20 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G
• Galaxy Note series: Note10, Note10 5G, Note10+, Note10+ 5G, Note10 Lite, Note20, Note20 5G, Note20 Ultra, Note20 Ultra 5G
• Galaxy A series: A10, A10e, A10s, A20, A20s, A30, A30s, A40, A50, A50s, A60, A70, A70s, A80, A90 5G, A11, A21, A21s, A31, A41, A51, A51 5G, A71, A71 5G, A02s, A12, A32 5G, A42 5G
• Galaxy M series: M10s, M20, M30, M30s, M40, M11, M12, M21, M31, M31s, M51
• Galaxy XCover series: XCover4s, XCover FieldPro, XCover Pro
• Galaxy Tab series: Tab Active Pro, Tab Active3, Tab A 8 (2019), Tab A with S Pen, Tab A 8.4 (2020), Tab A7, Tab S5e, Tab S6, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6 Lite, Tab S7, Tab S7+

For more information about Samsung software updates and Galaxy devices including specifications, please visit news.samsung.com/galaxy, www.samsungmobilepress.com or www.samsung.com/galaxy.

¹ This release was updated on March 9, 2021 to provide further clarity on the release schedule. For further details, please refer to Samsung Mobile “Security Updates” https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb

² The eSE earned an ‘EAL 6+’ rating, the highest rating among security chips for mobile devices, under the Common Criteria.

³ Availability of security updates may vary by device and market. The lists of security update models are subject to change and will be reviewed on a periodic basis.

Protecting What is Valuable to Users

Users expect their information to be protected. It is therefore essential to ensure that the eID mobile solution meets the strict security requirements of the federal government and keeps German citizens’ information safe. To do so, all four partners developed a holistic security architecture centered around the foundation of smartphone security – the hardware. Thanks to a highly secure chip built directly into the phone, information can be stored locally on the device and gives users full control over their data.

“In addition to the identity card, almost every citizen in Germany owns a smartphone. Thanks to the OPTIMOS project and in cooperation with Samsung and Deutsche Telekom Security, we now have the chance to combine the high level of trust in the physical document with the user-friendliness of the smartphone,” says Dr. Stefan Hofschen, CEO of Bundesdruckerei. “We are thus creating the basis to ensure sovereignty and trust in a world that is becoming increasingly ‘digital’ and ‘mobile’. In the future, digital sovereign identities and authorizations can be used and managed by citizens in a self-determined manner via the app provided by bdr for this purpose”.

An Open Security Platform

This new mobile eID solution was created as part of the OPTIMOS 2.0 project, whose goal is to create an open ecosystem that provides the technology and infrastructure for secure mobile authentication. As such, it was important for all partners to make sure that this new security architecture would be open to many identity service providers.

“The more we digitalize our daily lives, the more important it is to protect our digital identity. At BSI, we develop, promote and certify eID solutions and technologies designed to protect people’s digital identity. As part of the OPTIMOS 2.0 project, our role was to standardize the necessary components, interfaces and processes so that the technology developed would meet the high security standards and be available to as many end users as possible,” said Arne Schönbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security.

To achieve this goal of creating an open ecosystem, Samsung made the Software Development Kit (SDK) for its embedded Secure Element (eSE) available to third parties.¹ This will enable service providers and app developers to create applets for Trusted Service Manager (TSM) that can be loaded into the secure chipset-based platform. As a result, applications and services will be able to work seamlessly with the eID program and German citizens can enjoy them with peace of mind, knowing their information will be protected.

“Together with Samsung and Bundesdruckerei, we created a comprehensive ecosystem for secure digital authentication. This uses the trusted secure elements of smartphones for storing forgery-proof identity information. Our newly developed TSM system is used for the transport of the identities, data storage management and ultimately lifecycle management of each eID, which provides the basis for a multitude of other secure applications,” says Thomas Fetten, CEO of Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH.

The Galaxy S20 Will Be the First Device to Comply With the New Security Requirements

The Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup, including the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra, will be the first smartphone to comply with the BSI’s eID security framework for sovereign use.² Thanks to the security embedded in Samsung’s Galaxy S20, the eID solution offers a “Substantial” level of assurance for secure and seamless electronic interactions under the EU eIDAS Regulation.³ This regulation was designed to ensure EU citizens can use their national eID across borders and helps prevent misuse or alteration of their government-issued IDs.

The Galaxy S20 lineup offers the highest level of encryption available, as illustrated by the Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level (CC EAL) 6+⁴ it recently received. It is the latest Samsung device to feature Samsung’s industry-leading embedded Secure Element (eSE) with other Samsung smartphones to follow. The eSE securely stores sensitive data on the device like credit card information, documents and keys and isolates them for maximum protection. Acting as a safe, a separate secure processor provides an extra layer of security designed to defend against hardware attacks and makes it difficult to access and copy information stored on the device.

“We’re incredibly proud that our Galaxy S20 series was the first line of mobile devices to meet such high security standards set out by the BSI. We always strive to offer the highest level of protection possible for our users. As we continue to move towards digitization, our goal is to ensure that mobile users around the world can enjoy these new services with true peace of mind, knowing that we’ll keep them safe,” said Daniel Ahn, Corporate SVP and Head of Security Team at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics.

What’s Next For Mobile eID?

This is only the beginning. Similar to contactless payments a few years ago, consumers will quickly realize the benefits of having key credentials including their driver’s license, national health insurance cards, or even their car and apartment keys available on their mobile phone, securely stored at all times. Soon, they may also be able to remotely verify their identity to access and send confidential medical records, open a bank account, or vote using their smartphone.

How Can I Enroll?⁵

The eID app will be available to German citizens using Samsung’s Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra later this year. After downloading and installing the Mobile ID application distributed by Bundesdruckerei from Play Store, Galaxy S20 owners can tap their Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled National ID card on the back of their phone to verify their identity and get started. Once verified, the mobile eID will be stored securely on the smartphone and can be used to open a bank account, use eGovernment services and more.⁶

About Bundesdruckerei (bdr)

Bundesdruckerei GmbH is a leading German high-tech security company. bdr products and services “Made in Germany” are firmly rooted in the reliable and lawful identification of individuals and institutions. Working as a security company on behalf of the German government, bdr is paving the way for a secure digital age. The Group employs a workforce of more than 2,700 and in 2019 generated revenue of around EUR 602m. For more information, go to: www.bundesdruckerei.de.

About German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)

The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) shapes information security in digitization through prevention, detection and reaction for government, business and society. As the federal cyber security authority, it is the task of the BSI to make Germany digitally secure. For this reason, the BSI is investigating the fields of application in which risks could arise from digitization and how these risks can be made calculable and controllable.

About Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH

As an independent company under the umbrella of Deutsche Telekom Group, Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH offers customers the same highly professional solutions, consisting of technology and services, with which Deutsche Telekom AG is also protected worldwide. With over 250 million euros of revenue, Telekom Security is the market leader in Germany and one of Europe’s top cybersecurity providers.

¹ “Samsung eSE SDK.” Samsung Developers, developer.samsung.com/ese/overview.html.

² “BSI TR-03159 Mobile Identities.” BSI, www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Publikationen/TechnischeRichtlinien/tr03159/tr03159_node.html;jsessionid=958104D96504D3A5A1CBF1A320C18EE8.2_cid503.

³ Substantial is the second level of assurance out of the three levels of low, substantial, and high awarded for eIDAS Regulation in the EU.

⁴ “Samsung Elevates Data Protection for Mobile Devices with New Security Chip Solution.” Samsung Newsroom, May. 26, 2020, news.samsung.com/global/samsung-elevates-data-protection-for-mobile-devices-with-new-security-chip-solution.

⁵ These enrollment instructions are specific to Germany and may vary by country.

⁶ Subject to service availability.

Building on Galaxy’s heritage of mobile security leadership, the Galaxy S20 offers an innovative electronic ID (eID) solution to help users easily manage their personal documents and enable seamless identification and authentication. As the first device to meet the German government and the European Union’s strict security requirements, it combines cutting-edge software with world-class security hardware to deliver a new mobile ID solution.

Digital IDs Made Simple

Later this year, with the Galaxy S20, users will be able to safely store their most important ID documents directly on their mobile device.¹ The solution will also give authorities a streamlined process to issue digital IDs.

Users can request to create an eID using just their smartphone. Once relevant authorities verify the request, the eID will be automatically stored and isolated in a secure location on the device.

Thanks to its end-to-end encryption system, the registration process is not just simple but secure. Only the ID issuing organization and authorized device can access a user’s personal data.

The Ultimate Digital Safe

To give users peace of mind when creating and using eIDs, Samsung built a storage component that meets strict, internationally-recognized security standards – the embedded Secure Element (eSE).

As the security hardware behind eID, the eSE acts as a digital safe to vault confidential data on the Galaxy S20. The chip is carefully designed to prevent malicious actors from stealing eID information even if they have physical access to the smartphone.

The Galaxy S20 has achieved CC EAL 6+ certification², one of the highest standards for hardware security. As the eSE meets the demands of the eIDAS, the EU regulation on electronic identification and trusted services for electronic transactions, it allows other EU member states to adopt secure and eIDAS compliant eID solutions in the future.

Convenient yet safe, the eID solution is a smart way to make wallets thinner and ID cards more secure. With the development of eID and eSE, Samsung has set a new standard for ID management in the digital age, marking the beginning of a new era of digital identification.

¹ Subject to service availability

² Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 6+