Security information extraction and probe insertion for side-channel analysis

Abstract

Methods, machine readable media and systems for performing side channel analysis are described. In one embodiment, a method can determine, from a gate level representation of a circuit in a layout on a die of an IC, a first set of paths through the circuit that process security related data during operation of the circuit, the circuit including a second set of paths that do not process security related data; and the method can further determine, in a simulation of power consumption in the first set of paths but not the second set of paths, power consumption values in the first set of paths to determine potential security leakage of the security related data in the circuit. The method can further determine, from the power consumption values, positions in the layout for inserting virtual probes on the die for use in measuring security metrics that indicate potential leakage of the security related data. The insertion of the virtual probes is relative to the actual simulated layout of the die. Other methods, machine readable media and systems are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.