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DPA countermeasures

MStar to Use Cryptography Research DPA Countermeasures to Ward Off Attacks in Set-Top Box Solutions

Added security technologies protect tamper-resistant chips in digital home market

SUNNYVALE, Calif., and TAIPEI, Taiwan — February 4, 2015 — Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) today announced that its Cryptography Research Division and MStar, a leading global semiconductor company for display and digital home solutions, have signed a license agreement for the inclusion of advanced DPA countermeasure technologies developed by Cryptography Research in MStar products. By incorporating these patented technologies, MStar’s tamper-resistant products, including set-top box chipsets, can be protected against differential power analysis (DPA) and related attacks.

“With growing threats impacting the content distribution market, we are committed to providing the highest level of security for our customers,” said Jeff Wu, Associate VP at MStar. “DPA countermeasures are integral to providing the highest level of security and now our solutions incorporate comprehensive security ingredients to protect against side-channel and other non-invasive attacks.”

DPA is a form of side-channel attack that involves monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption or EM emissions from a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets from chips. Since these types of attacks can affect set-top boxes and other consumer electronic devices, there is a growing need in the entertainment industry for advanced side-channel attack solutions to provide secure delivery of high quality content to homes.

“As it becomes easier to mount attacks using DPA, content distributors need protection against side-channel attacks to satisfy requirements in order to provide secure access to high value content,” said Paul Kocher, president and chief scientist of the Rambus Cryptography Research division. “By incorporating DPA countermeasures into their set-top box chipsets, MStar is demonstrating their commitment to deploying comprehensive security measures in the pay TV space.”

Cryptography Research DPA countermeasure technologies are designed to protect devices against certain types of attacks that can extract cryptographic keys and other sensitive data from chips in set-top boxes and other home networking products. By integrating more comprehensive security solutions into set-top boxes, unauthorized access of premium content can be prevented.

About Cryptography Research

The Rambus Cryptography Research division specializes in embedded security solutions to combat the worldwide threat to data integrity, our innovative technologies span areas including tamper resistance, content protection, network security, media and payment and transaction services. Eight billion security products are made annually with our security technology, and systems designed by our scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues every year. Additional information is available at cryptography.com.

About MStar Semiconductor, Inc.

MStar Semiconductor, Inc. is a world-class leader in Application Specific ICs with a focus on consumer electronic products and communication applications. Since the inception in 2002, MStar has established a strong brand and leadership position in LCD controller, analog and digital TV, and set-top box by fully leveraging its core expertise of cutting-edge design capabilities, continuous innovation and premier customer-focused services. Headquartered in Taiwan, MStar has a comprehensive global footprint of international R&D and customer support centers to provide a full range of total solutions for various consumer electronic applications. For more information, please visit www.mstarsemi.com.

Rambus Cryptography Research Division Enters Agreement with Microsemi

DPA resistant products, technologies, and services available to help combat threats in highly-sensitive markets

SAN FRANCISCO and ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — January 29, 2015 — Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) today announced that Microsemi Corporation (NASDAQ:MSCC) will serve as reseller for certain differential power analysis (DPA) technologies developed by its Cryptography Research division. This reseller agreement includes the DPA WorkStation™ and the recently-announced DPA Resistant AES cryptographic cores that offer chipmakers an easy-to-integrate solution to protect against side-channel attack vulnerabilities. Microsemi will focus its reseller efforts on the government and military sectors.

The agreement also enables Microsemi to conduct training classes to help customers evaluate their vulnerability to DPA and related side-channel attacks, helping chip purchasers and downstream customers identify devices with the most effective security. As the first major FPGA company to license DPA countermeasures, Microsemi has identified DPA as a significant vulnerability in chip security, specifically for the mission-critical applications found in government and military settings.

“The threat of side-channel attacks, particularly DPA, is very real in the military and government space,” said Greg Ellis, vice president and product line manager at Microsemi. “Acting as a trusted partner that can offer training, testing and IP core products around DPA provides Microsemi with a substantial security differentiation while also assuring the rigorous security requirements of our government and military customers are being met.”

Microsemi’s newest generation of SmartFusion®2 SoC FPGA and IGLOO2® FPGA programmable devices are the industry’s most secure, boasting four key elements needed for secure programmable devices—secure hardware, design security, data security and being built through a secure supply chain management system. The Cryptography Research DPA Workstation and associated testing services complement these FPGAs from Microsemi, as well as the company’s existing portfolio of cryptography, anti-tamper and anti-reverse engineering IP products, including WhiteboxCRYPTO™, CodeSEAL™ and EnforcIT®.

“The relationship with Microsemi is important and we look forward to seeing our relationship continue to grow, benefitting government and military customers with expanded access to a full range of DPA-resistant solutions,” said Paul Kocher, president and chief scientist of the Rambus Cryptography Research division. “As more and more embedded systems contain high value and sensitive information, the threat of side-channel attacks will continue, making it imperative to have a partner like Microsemi delivering much needed products, tools and services to the market.”

Side channel and DPA attacks involve monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to these attacks help protect tamper-resistant products used in a variety of applications outside of government and military verticals, such as banking, pay television, mass transit, secure ID, and wireless telecommunications.

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About Cryptography Research

The Rambus Cryptography Research division specializes in embedded security solutions to combat the worldwide threat to data integrity, our innovative technologies span areas including tamper resistance, content protection, network security, media and payment and transaction services. Eight billion security products are made annually with our security technology, and systems designed by our scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in revenues every year. Additional information is available at cryptography.com.

About Rambus Inc.

Rambus brings invention to market. Our customizable IP cores, architecture licenses, tools, services, and training improve the competitive advantage of our customer’s products while accelerating their time-to-market. Rambus products and innovations capture, secure and move data. For more information, visit rambus.com.

About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation (NASDAQ:MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense & security, aerospace and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world’s standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and has approximately 3,400 employees globally. Learn more at microsemi.com.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in this news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature, including without limitation statements related to Microsemi being certified as the first U.S.-based, accredited testing lab for the Differential Power Analysis Countermeasure Validation Program and Microsemi being licensed to conduct independent side channel evaluations, conduct training classes and serve as reseller for the Cryptography Research DPA WorkStation and DPA Resistant Cores, and its potential effects on future business, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, potential cost increases, variations in customer order preferences, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company’s products, adverse circumstances in any of our end markets, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, difficulties foreseeing future demand, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, difficulties and costs of protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and difficulties regarding customer qualification of products. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company’s most recent Form 10-K and all subsequent Form 10-Q reports filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors may be identified from time to time in Microsemi’s future filings. The forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and Microsemi does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Rambus Cryptography Research Division Launches Suite of DPA Resistant Cores Addressing the Continuing Rise in Data Theft

Enables easy-to-integrate countermeasures as further deterrent to side-channel attacks

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – September 30, 2014 – Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS), today announced that its Cryptography Research division has introduced a family of differential power analysis (DPA) resistant cryptographic cores. As part of Rambus’ overall IP cores program, these ready-to-use IP cores offer chipmakers an easy-to-integrate security solution with built-in side channel resistance for cryptographic functions across a wide range of connected devices. Leading with high-performance AES cryptographic cores, these DPA resistant solutions provide SoC manufacturers with a seamless solution that enables them to devote resources to differentiating features and reduce implementation time.

“Instances of data theft are increasing at an alarming rate,” said Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, vice president of Products and Marketing of the Rambus Cryptography Research division. “These threats highlight the vulnerability of valuable and sensitive data in all of our connected devices. By enhancing today’s standard cryptographic cores with robust DPA resistance, we ensure our customers have a higher level of protection with validated solutions.”

DPA attacks use variations in the electrical power consumption or RF emissions of a targeted device to derive secret keys from crypto algorithms. Many industries, including payments, content protection and defense, now require that chipsets include protection against DPA attacks. By packaging DPA countermeasures into cryptographic IP cores, robust DPA resistance can now be easily integrated into SoCs using hardware cores or software libraries. These solutions provide flexible side-channel resistance validated to different security and performance levels based on product requirements.

As one of the most widely used encryption algorithms for both commercial and government applications, the initial offering includes both 128- and 256-bit AES cryptographic cores. The product roadmap includes a full suite of solutions across all standard algorithms, such as 3DES, ECC, SHA, and government-recommended Suite B. These cores are validated to resist first- and second-order DPA attacks up to 10 million traces and can be optimized for size, speed, and security level, based on customer requirements.

Having discovered side-channel attacks, Cryptography Research scientists have developed a comprehensive portfolio of application-specific hardware core and software library solutions that chipmakers can use to build DPA resistant products. These DPA resistant solutions can be integrated into a wide range of SoCs, including power-sensitive mobile applications, highly secure anti-tampering and performance-driven multi-core processors. These cores and libraries are accompanied by a variety of tools, such as the DPA Workstation™, as well as services and system IP to help chipmakers improve system margins, reduce cost, focus on product differentiation and speed time-to-market.

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About Cryptography Research

Cryptography Research, a division of Rambus Inc., is a leader in semiconductor security research and development. Established by internationally renowned cryptographer Paul Kocher, Cryptography Research develops and licenses innovative technologies in areas including tamper resistance, content protection, anti-counterfeiting, network security, and financial services. Over eight billion security products are made each year under license from Cryptography Research. Security systems designed by Cryptography Research scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce annually. Additional information is available at cryptography.com.

About Rambus Inc.

Rambus brings invention to market. Our customizable IP cores, architecture licenses, tools, services, and training improve the competitive advantage of our customer’s products while accelerating their time-to-market. Rambus products and innovations capture, secure and move data. For more information, visit rambus.com.

Cryptography Research and Entropic Sign License Agreement for DPA Countermeasures to Secure Next Generation Content

Security technology fully protects set-top box SoCs from non-invasive side channel attacks

SAN FRANCISCO and SAN DIEGO – July 23, 2014 – Cryptography Research, the security division of Rambus (NASDAQ:RMBS), and Entropic(NASDAQ:ENTR), a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, today announced they have signed a patent license agreement allowing for the use of the Cryptography Research side-channel attack countermeasures in Entropic’s integrated circuits. The Cryptography Research patented technology will protect Entropic’s set-top box system-on-a-chip (SoC) products against differential power analysis (DPA) and related attacks. This agreement builds on the previous agreement between the two companies with Entropic already licensing the Cryptography Research CryptoFirewall™ tamper-resistant core for set-top boxes.

“While high value content enhances the Pay-TV experience, it also carries with it substantial risk for our OEM and Service Provider customers,” said Matt Rhodes, senior vice president, Global Marketing, Entropic. “Today’s premium programming requires strong protection systems and CRI’s DPA countermeasure technology provides an essential foundation for any Conditional Access or Digital Rights Management system.”

“The market demands for protection against non-invasive side channel attacks such as DPA have grown with the continued rise of high quality content,” said Paul Kocher, chief scientist of the Rambus Cryptography Research division. “Entropic has been a terrific partner for our CryptoFirewall technology and is once again taking a leadership role in deploying strong content protection technology in the set-top box SoC market.”

Using DPA, attackers can measure the power consumption of a set-top box chip to extract secret cryptographic keys stored within the set-top box. The discovery of secret keys undermines the security of set-top boxes within a service provider’s network and can result in the theft of valuable, high-quality content and services as well as leaving other data like personal information vulnerable. Set-top box SoCs that contain DPA countermeasures prevent the power consumption analysis through a series of techniques to ultimately protect the secret keys of a set-top box from being discovered.

Side channel and DPA attacks are non-invasive attacks that involve monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to these attacks help protect tamper-resistant products used in applications such as banking, pay television, mass transit, secure ID, and wireless telecommunications.

For additional information on DPA Countermeasures, CryptoFirewall or on Cryptography Research visit cryptography.com.

About Entropic

Entropic™ (Nasdaq:ENTR) is a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home. The Company transforms how traditional HDTV broadcast and IP-based streaming video content is seamlessly, reliably, and securely delivered, processed, and distributed into and throughout the home. Entropic’s next-generation Set-top Box (STB) System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and Connectivity solutions enable Pay-TV operators to offer consumers more captivating whole-home entertainment experiences by transforming the way digital entertainment is delivered, connected and consumed – in the home and on the go. For more information, please visit Entropic at:www.entropic.com, read our blog Entropic Topics, or get social with us at@Entropic_News, or on Facebook, Google+, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Cryptography Research, Inc.

Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc., is a leader in semiconductor security research and development. Established by internationally renowned cryptographer Paul Kocher, CRI develops and licenses innovative technologies in areas including tamper resistance, content protection, anti-counterfeiting, network security, and financial services. Over seven billion security products are made each year under license from CRI. Security systems designed by CRI scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce annually. Additional information is available at: cryptography.com.

Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Entropic’s SoC technologies, its related prospects and its role in the future of connected home entertainment. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Entropic’s actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, competition, risks associated with Entropic dependence on a limited number of customers and suppliers, technology risks, the risk that the market for HD video and multimedia content delivery solutions may not develop as Entropic anticipates and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Entropic’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Entropic is providing this information as of the date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cryptography Research and Fairchild Semiconductor Sign Patent License Agreement for DPA Countermeasures

SAN FRANCISCO and SAN JOSE, Calif. – April 08, 2014 — Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS), and Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: FCS) today announced they have signed a patent license agreement allowing for the use of CRI’s patented inventions in Fairchild’s integrated circuits. With CRI’s patented technology, Fairchild’s tamper-resistant integrated circuits are more securely protected against differential power analysis (DPA) and related attacks. This license also covers software developed by Fairchild’s customers when utilized on Fairchild’s licensed integrated circuits.

“In today’s market, protection against power analysis attacks is becoming essential and this agreement enables us to provide our customers with strong security across all of our product lines,” said Dan Godbout, Marketing Director at Fairchild Semiconductor. “The DPA countermeasures technology developed by Cryptography Research is integral to the robust security solutions we are developing to protect our customers against tampering and other attacks.”

“Fairchild Semiconductor is a leading global supplier of high performance power management and mobile semiconductor products and we are proud to count them among our licensees,” said Pankaj Rohatgi, technical director at Cryptography Research. “DPA countermeasures are crucial to securing electronic systems and we are excited about furthering the adoption and integration of our technology into Fairchild’s anti-tamper integrated circuit solutions.“

DPA is a form of attack that involves monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to DPA help protect tamper-resistant products used in applications such as banking, pay television, mass transit, secure ID, and wireless telecommunications. Cryptography Research has developed a portfolio of over 70 issued patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks, with additional patent applications allowed or pending.

For additional information on DPA Countermeasures or on Cryptography Research visit cryptography.com.

About Fairchild Semiconductor:

Fairchild has a rich history as a pioneer in the semiconductor industry and that pioneering spirit endures today. In an era where diversity can dilute focus and hamper innovation, we specialize in the development and manufacturing of a complete portfolio of low- to high-power solutions for the mobile, industrial, cloud, automotive, lighting, and computing industries. Fairchild is one of the most reliable partners in the industry, offering the shortest time from concept to silicon, expert FAEs for customer support, and a flexible, multi-source supply chain. Our vision is clear – anticipate the power efficiencies demanded by tomorrow’s electronic products and deliver an amazing design experience. Please contact us on the web atfairchildsemi.com.

About Cryptography Research, Inc.

Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc., is a leader in semiconductor security research and development. Established by internationally renowned cryptographer Paul Kocher, CRI develops and licenses innovative technologies in areas including tamper resistance, content protection, anti-counterfeiting, network security, and financial services. Over seven billion security products are made each year under license from CRI. Security systems designed by CRI scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce annually. Additional information is available at cryptography.com.

Samsung Electronics and Cryptography Research Extend Technology Relationship to Improve Device Security

Agreement includes technologies for protecting smartphones, payments, content protection, and enterprise applications against side channel attacks

SEOUL, KOREA and SAN FRANCISCO, CA — January 5, 2014 — Samsung Electronics and Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS), today announced an extended relationship, enabling further integration of CRI’s DPA countermeasure technologies across a variety of Samsung semiconductor and system devices. This agreement allows Samsung to provide protection against side channel attacks in devices such as smartphones, payment chips, content protection systems, and enterprise applications. Also today, Samsung and Rambus announced they have extended their architecture licensing relationship for 10 years, until 2023.

“DPA countermeasure technologies have been essential to Samsung’s smart card products,” said Sunghee Cho, Samsung Vice President. “We now have the opportunity to deploy advanced DPA countermeasures in other Samsung devices requiring content protection and security applications.”

“Strong security makes connected devices far more valuable by enabling them to safely access higher-value data and services,” said Paul Kocher, president and chief scientist of Cryptography Research. “We are delighted to provide technology to help Samsung enhance its leadership position in securing products from dedicated security chips up to cutting-edge smartphones.”

Side channel and differential power analysis (DPA) attacks involve measuring variations in the electrical power consumption or RF emissions of a target device, then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Countermeasures to these attacks are required to protect tamper-resistant products used in applications including banking, pay television, mass transit, secure ID, and wireless telecommunications. Cryptography Research’s innovations are reflected in a portfolio of over 70 issued patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks, with additional patent applications allowed or pending.

For additional information on DPA countermeasures or Cryptography Research, visit cryptography.com.

About Cryptography Research, Inc.

Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc., is a leader in semiconductor security research and development. Established by internationally renowned cryptographer Paul Kocher, CRI develops and licenses innovative technologies in areas including tamper resistance, content protection, anti-counterfeiting, network security, and financial services. Over seven billion security products are made each year under license from CRI. Security systems designed by CRI scientists and engineers protect hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce annually. Additional information is available at cryptography.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales of US$187.8 billion.

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