Data security through real time implementation of QFT PUF in PSoC

Abstract

In day-to-day life, the use of electronic devices, ranging from mobile phones in low-end data to servers in high-end data centres is widespread. These devices demand exchange of confidential and user specific data for various applications. When the data is disclosed during exchange, the users face the threat of disastrous effects, such as loss of privacy, intellectual property theft, software piracy and counterfeit hardware. Statistically, around 10% of all electronic products sold globally are counterfeit due to data disclosure. However, to enforce security measures, various Cryptographic techniques in the form of authentication, integrity, and confidentiality were applied on various electronic devices. Traditionally, the cryptographic techniques rely on the secured key or the device identifier for encryption and authentication. In order to defend spurious attacks from hackers, the Cryptographic key or the identifier generation and keystorage, demands a robust method. Cryptographic keys generated using software are easily predictable due to its deterministic nature. Moreover, the use of non-volatile memory for key storage is expensive and highly vulnerable to attacks. Above all, the hackers use advanced and sophisticated hacking techniques to disclose the encrypted data. Hence, a novel security solution with higher reliability for key generation and efficient storage concerns is required. To elevate security, Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) is an ideal solution to replace traditional cryptographic techniques. PUFs are highly suitable for authentication and verification applications. newline