Method for protecting the integrity of a group of memory elements using an aggregate authentication code

A device comprising:

• a memory device to store a list of memory elements;
• a processing circuit coupled to the memory device, the processing circuit configured to
• obtain an individual authentication code for each memory element;
• obtain an aggregate authentication code by combining the individual authentication codes for each memory element in the list;
• and
• store the aggregate authentication code in the memory device.

A device, comprising:

• means for defining a list of memory elements;
• means for obtaining an individual authentication code for each memory element;
• means for obtaining an aggregate authentication code by combining the individual authentication codes for each memory element in the list;
• and
• means for storing the aggregate authentication code in a memory device.

A processor-readable storage medium having one or more instructions which when executed by at least one processing circuit causes the at least one processing circuit to:

• define a list of memory elements;
• obtain an individual authentication code for each memory element;
• obtain an aggregate authentication code by combining the individual authentication codes for each memory element in the list;
• and
• store the aggregate authentication code in a memory device.