Secret key cryptographic process for protecting a computer system against attacks by physical analysis
AssigneeBull CP8
InventorsJacques Patarin, Louis Goubin
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Abstract
The invention relates to a secret-key cryptographic calculation process for protecting a computer system against physical attacks, wherein a) the standard cryptographic calculation process is separated into several distinct, parallel process parts using partial intermediate results distinct from those of the standard calculation, and b) the final value of the standard cryptographic calculation is reconstructed from the distinct partial intermediate results. The invention is particularly applicable to computer systems such as embedded systems such as a smart card.
Claims43
A process for implementing a standard cryptographic calculation process that uses a secret key to protect a computer system against attacks by physical analysis, wherein said standard cryptographic process produces a standard final value, comprising:
- a) separating the standard cryptographic calculation process into a plurality of distinct calculation process parts,
- b) executing the distinct calculation process parts in parallel to produce partial intermediate variables distinct from any intermediate variables produced using the standard cryptographic calculation;
- and
- c) reconstructing a final value that is identical to the standard final value obtained by the standard cryptographic calculation without a separation from said distinct partial intermediate variables whereby the computer system is protected against attacks by physical analysis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.