Download Backdoors - The Computer Laboratory

Security, Reliability and Backdoors
Security Group, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 13 May 2014
Targets for my research
• FPGA (field-programmable gate array) semiconductor chip
– Actel (Microsemi) ProASIC3 Flash-based FPGA A3P250
• no need for external configuration – chip is live on power-up
• “The contents of a programmed ProASIC3 device cannot be read back,
although secure design verification is possible.”
– Marketed as ´highly secure´
• “offer one of the highest levels of design security in the industry”
• “having inherent resistance to both invasive and noninvasive attacks on
valuable IP”
– Used in military and sensitive industrial applications (avionics,
automotive, space, power plants, medical equipment)