EDITOR’S CHOICE


agileVGLITCH provides SoCs with defence against hackers


Hackers don’t just target software, often they try and hack the chips themselves as this can provide significant information and bypass software security measures. A favourite way for hackers to attack a chip is called a voltage Side-Channel Attack (SCA).


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he secrets of the chip can be found out by measuring and analysing how various parameters change, such as voltage, clock and temperature, when different voltages are applied. Considerable amounts of information can be obtained via the ‘leaks’ that occur during a successful SCA. In addition, an SCA can put the SoC into a vulnerable state enabling the hacker’s software to be uploaded.


Agile Analog has created a counter measure IP block that can be included into an SoC design specifically to detect when such an attack is happening so that the SoC can take appropriate counter measures.


It is particularly applicable for inclusion into chips that are used in IoT, security,


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automotive, medical, and AI that are frequent targets for hackers although this list is expanding as valuable hackable data starts to be available in other areas. Called agileVGLITCH, this IP block monitors for any changes to the supply voltage, which are known as glitches, or power supply manipulation that could indicate that an attack on the chip is underway. Should that occur, it sends a digital alarm to the SoC’s processor to alert it to the intrusion attempt so that counter measures can be implemented.


There are four key parts as shown in Figure 1: Bandgap


This provides an accurate voltage reference for the other system components and is


OCTOBER 2023 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS


designed to operate from a wider voltage range than typical to ensure good coverage of glitch monitoring. The bandgap follows a traditional architecture, based on ratios of current through two different p-n junctions. The bandgap incorporates a bootstrap circuit to ensure reliable turn-on at start up, and has the option for production trim to increase accuracy.


Programable controller Two configurations of a Programmable Comparator are specified to enable over-voltage and under-voltage glitches to be detected. The thresholds are configurable and level-shifters are incorporated to allow the IOs to be driven from the core supply.


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