Devices with on-board physically unclonable functions

A payment reader, comprising:

• an interface configured to receive payment data from a payment device;
• a physically unclonable function (PUF) source for providing PUF data, the PUF source comprising an anti-tamper device having a physical characteristic that changes in response to a tamper attempt, wherein the PUF data is based on the physical characteristic;
• and
• circuitry configured to process a payment transaction based on the payment data and to detect the tamper attempt based on a change to the physical characteristic, the circuitry configured to acquire the PUF data and to perform at least one secure operation based on the PUF data, the circuitry further configured to perform at least one action for protecting the payment reader against the tamper attempt in response to detection of the tamper attempt, wherein the change to the physical characteristic changes the PUF data provided by the PUF source such that the circuitry is prevented from using the changed PUF data to perform the at least one secure operation after the detection of the tamper attempt.

A method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

• determining, with circuitry of the electronic device, physically unclonable function (PUF) data based on a physical characteristic of an anti-tamper device of the electronic device, wherein the physical characteristic changes in response to a tamper attempt;
• performing, with the circuitry, a secure operation within the electronic device;
• detecting, with the circuitry, the tamper attempt in response to a change of the physical characteristic;
• and
• performing, with the circuitry, at least one action for protecting the electronic device from the tamper attempt in response to the detecting,
• wherein the PUF data is based on the physical characteristic such that the PUF data determined by the circuitry changes in response to the change of the physical characteristic.