Episode 5: Arrival Protocols - When NFC Speaks a Language You Don’t Understand

You thought that tap-to-pay was just a digital convenience — but what if it's actually first contact?In this Arrival-inspired episode of Burn Notice: A Smoke Signal Podcast, AI hosts Ainsley and Ian decode how Near Field Communication (NFC) functions like an alien language — fast, invisible, and full of meaning… if you know how to translate it. But just like in Arrival, misinterpretation can lead to disaster.Privacy expert James W. breaks down how devices “converse” through active and passive signals, often without your knowledge. Just because it’s “near field” doesn’t mean it’s under your control. This episode speaks your privacy language — even when your device doesn’t.