Data Processing Circuitry Power Masking via Dummy Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data processing systems are vulnerable to differential power analysis (DPA) attacks, which can reveal sensitive information such as cryptographic keys by exploiting characteristic variations in power consumption during operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of data processing circuitry with multiple computational units, where one or more units perform additional 'dummy' operations concurrently with the primary operation, masking the power consumption characteristics through control circuitry that decodes instructions and manages these extra operations based on configuration data and power detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple computational units perform dummy operations concurrently with primary operations, then security against DPA attacks is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides computational operations into separate segments: primary operations that execute the given instruction and dummy operations that mask power consumption characteristics. Multiple computational units are segmented to perform different operation types simultaneously, preventing correlation between total power consumption and specific data processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of operational activity by introducing dummy operations that modify the power consumption profile. These dummy operations alter the temporal and quantitative characteristics of power usage, making it impossible to correlate power measurements with actual computational operations on sensitive data.
2Reliability
If multiple computational units perform dummy operations concurrently, then power consumption masking is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic dummy operations that are synchronized with the execution timeline of primary operations. Control circuitry is configured to initiate dummy operations at specific periods or intervals that align with expected primary operation completion times, ensuring continuous masking without unnecessary extension of total execution time.
Data Source
AI summary
Data processing circuitry comprises a set of two or more computational units to perform respective computational operations; an instruction decoder to decode successive data processing instructions and, for a given data processing instruction, to control one or more of the computational units to perform those computational operations required to execute the given data processing instruction; and control circuitry responsive to the given data processing instruction, to control one or more others of the computational units to perform further computational operations, other than the computational operations required to execute the given data processing instruction, during execution of the given data processing instruction.