Hardware Security of CE Devices [Hardware Matters

Abstract

In my previous columns, I have covered various topics, including the evolution of the intellectual property core industry, digital integrated circuit (IC) design flow, high-level perspectives on intellectual property (IP) cores, and the transient fault resiliency of IP cores. Though one of my previous columns focused on providing a generic cognizance about the protection of reusable IP cores, it did not delve deep into the threat models and defense mechanisms against hardware trojans and IP piracy. This column discusses hardware security of consumer electronics (CE) devices, focusing primarily on threat models and defense mechanisms against two major attacks: hardware trojans and IP piracy.