Protection device, corresponding method and computer software product

A method for protecting an electronic payment terminal, comprising at least one printed circuit and one casing, said method comprising at least one iteration of the following steps:

• measuring a current value of capacitance by at least one capacitive detector of a device comprising:
• said at least one capacitive detector, which comprises a first part electrically connected to said printed circuit, a second part mounted within said casing of said electronic payment terminal without being electrically connected to said first part, and a third part comprising at least one polyhedral element lined with a conductive surface, said at least one capacitive detector being configured to deliver a reference capacitance when said at least one capacitive detector is mounted in said electronic payment terminal, wherein said at least one polyhedral element has at least one of a shape, thickness or location that is unique for said device, and wherein the second part changes at least one of shape or location relative to the first part when the terminal is dismantled leading to a variation in a measured capacitance;
• and
• a capacitive measurement microprocessor electrically connected to said at least one capacitive detector, configured to detect a variation in capacitance of said at least one capacitive detector;
• computing an absolute value of a difference between said measured capacitance and said reference capacitance;
• and
• transmitting a piece of information representing said variation of capacitance when said absolute value exceeds said predetermined threshold.

An electronic payment terminal comprising:

• at least one printed circuit and one casing;
• at least one device for protecting the electronic payment terminal, the device comprising:
• at least one capacitive detector comprising a first part electrically connected to said printed circuit,
• a second part mounted within said casing of said electronic payment terminal without being electrically connected to said first part, a third part comprising at least one polyhedral element lined with a conductive surface,
• said at least one capacitive detector being configured to deliver a reference capacitance when said at least one capacitive detector is mounted in said electronic payment terminal, wherein said at least one polyhedral element has at least is unique for said device, and wherein the second part changes at least one of shape or location relative to the first part when the terminal is dismantled leading to a variation in a measured capacitance;
• a capacitive measurement microprocessor electrically connected to said at least one capacitive detector, configured to detect a variation in capacitance of said at least one capacitive detector;
• a transmitter, which transmits a piece of information representing said variation in capacitance when an absolute value of a difference between said measured capacitance and said reference capacitance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A non-transitory computer-readable carrier comprising a computer software product stored thereon and executable by a microprocessor, the product comprising program code instructions to execute a method for protecting an electronic payment terminal when the program is executed on a microprocessor, wherein the method comprises at least one iteration of the following steps:

• measuring a current value of capacitance by at least one capacitive detector of a device comprising:
• said at least one capacitive detector, which comprises a first part electrically connected to a printed circuit, a second part mounted within a casing of said electronic payment terminal without being electrically connected to said first part, and a third part comprising at least one polyhedral element lined with a conductive surface, said at least one capacitive detector being configured to deliver a reference capacitance when said at least one capacitive detector is mounted in said electronic payment terminal, wherein said at least one polyhedral element has at least one of a shape, thickness or location that is unique for said device, and wherein the second part changes at least one of shape or location relative to the first part when the terminal is dismantled leading to a variation in a measured capacitance;
• and
• a capacitive measurement microprocessor electrically connected to said at least one capacitive detector, configured to detected a variation in capacitance of said at least one capacitive detector;
• computing an absolute value of a difference between said measured capacitance and said reference capacitance;
• and
• transmitting a piece of information representing said variation of capacitance when said absolute value exceeds said predetermined threshold.