Electronic tampering detection
AssigneeWorcester Polytechnic Institute
InventorsShahin Tajik, Patrick Schaumont, Tahoura Mosavirik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting physical attacks on a computing device includes embedding a sensor or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) on a circuit board for gathering a frequency response of a power distribution network providing power to the circuit board. During operation of the circuit board, the sensor identifies and gathers a frequency response suspected of resulting from a tamper effort, and compares the identified frequency response to a frequency response of tempering events. Based on the comparison, a determination of tampering is made.
Claims13
In an electronic system on a circuit board having a processor and traces for distribution of power to circuit components on the board, a method of detecting tampering with the electronic system, comprising:
- identifying an impedance model of a power distribution network (PDN) on a circuit board by representing the PDN as an RLC (Resistance, Inductance. Capacitance) circuit;
- storing the impedance model as an indicator of normal operation of an electronic system on the circuit board;
- determining a change to the impedance model based on a successive gathering of a deviant impedance model from the circuit board;
- and
- concluding a tempering event has occurred to the circuit board based on a comparison of the impedance model and the deviant impedance model.
A PCB board component device on a circuit board implementing an electronic system having a processor and traces for distribution of power to circuit components on the board for detecting tampering with the electronic system, comprising:
- a plurality of connections to a power distribution network (PDN) on a circuit board for identifying an impedance model of the PDN by representing the PDN as an RLC (Resistance, Inductance. Capacitance) circuit;
- a memory for storing the impedance model as an indicator of normal operation of an electronic system on the circuit board;
- a vector network analyzer (VNA) for determining a change to the impedance model based on a successive gathering of a deviant impedance model from the circuit board;
- and
- a statistical comparator for concluding a tempering event has occurred to the circuit board based on a comparison of the impedance model and the deviant impedance model.
A computer program embodying program code on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, performs steps for, in an electronic system on a circuit board having a processor and traces for distribution of power to circuit components on the board, a method of detecting tampering with the electronic system, the method comprising:
- identifying an impedance model of a power distribution network (PDN) on a circuit board by representing the PDN as an RLC (Resistance, Inductance. Capacitance) circuit;
- storing the impedance model as an indicator of normal operation of an electronic system on the circuit board;
- determining a change to the impedance model based on a successive gathering of a deviant impedance model from the circuit board;
- and
- concluding a tempering event has occurred to the circuit board based on a comparison of the impedance model and the deviant impedance model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.