Objective
The objectives are to investigate the use of self timed logic for improving the security of smartcards, and evaluate the effectiveness in some demonstrations, including electronic chequebook and authorisation. The goal is an order of magnitude (10x) increase in the cost of attack, thus improving security by an order of magnitude as well. Second order benefits, such as reduced Radio Frequency Emissions and lower power consumption are also expected.
Work description:
To produce a self-timed processor smartcard, analysis of all known non-invasive attacks will be done and ways of introducing defences in the design of a self-timed microprocessor will be developed. A secure operating system, based on an existing one, will be evolved to make maximum use of the new hardware features, especially for multi-function applications. This will then be subject to attack, and its resistance evaluated. The starting point for the baseline will be both a 16 bit processor, the XAP, which can quickly be synthesised in an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a 32 bit processor, the Amulet (a self timed version of the ARM microprocessor). Modifications at various levels will be made to improve security.
The types of attack to be considered are non-invasive - both passive (external observation only) and active, which should be detectable by the card. Invasive attack work is limited to the extraction of data that could subsequently be used in non-invasive attacks. The cryptographic library, operating system and microprocessor will be integrated onto a prototype smartcard and evaluated within the project, and under controlled conditions in a limited trial, to determine if there are any real world conditions not foreseen in the laboratory. The demonstrations will include an electronic cheque (Mandate) and an enhanced PKI (Public Key Interchange) application, where the users can carry the local registration on the card.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radio frequency
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications system software operating systems
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware computer processors
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computer security cryptography
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Programme(s)
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Topic(s)
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Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
CB1 9NJ CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.