Cryptography Research and Riscure validate set-top boxes utilizing Broadcom’s BCM7538 SoC to effectively protect against side channel attacks
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and DELFT, The Netherlands December 19, 2013 — Cryptography Research Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS), and Riscure today announced the certification of Broadcom’s set-top box silicon under the Differential Power Analysis (DPA) countermeasure validation program. The analysis, conducted by security evaluation firm Riscure, validates the effectiveness of DPA countermeasures to protect quality content distribution in set-top box products utilizing the Broadcom BCM7538 SoC.
“Implementing effective countermeasures to DPA is important to enable a secure foundation for content distribution,” said Dan Marotta, Broadcom executive vice president and general manager, Broadband Communications Group. “We will continue to leverage our engineering expertise to be first to market and industry leader in providing secure set-top box home networking technology to our customers and partners.”
Cryptography Research licenses DPA countermeasure technologies to protect devices against side channel attacks that can extract cryptographic keys and other sensitive data from chips in set-top boxes and other home networking products. The need to integrate more comprehensive security solutions in set-top boxes has emerged as basic content protection solutions sometimes fail to thwart today’s advanced piracy techniques. Broadcom is the first semiconductor company to provide these new DPA countermeasures across its line of set-top box SoCs.
The DPA countermeasure validation program is a certification program administered by security experts at Cryptography Research, and involves rigorous independent testing of products to evaluate resistance to side channel attacks. The testing program’s goal is to enable chip purchasers and downstream customers to identify devices with effective security. In 2012 Riscure was accredited by Cryptography Research as an independent testing lab to conduct evaluations for the DPA countermeasure validation program.
“Emerging requirements demand the highest levels of protection for premium content distribution across the broad spectrum of pay TV systems,” said Benjamin Jun, chief technology officer for Cryptography Research. “This certification demonstrates Broadcom’s dedication to implement state-of-the-art security countermeasures in its SoCs.”
“Riscure has conducted comprehensive testing of the relevant cryptographic functions deployed by the Broadcom BCM7538 SoC, which are used in pay TV set-top box applications. We are pleased to confirm that these techniques are effective in protecting against side channel attacks,” said Pascal Van Gimst, managing director of Riscure Security Labs.
The BCM7538 is now approved to display the “DPA Lock” security logo, which provides customers with assurance that devices contain DPA countermeasures which are authorized and have been rigorously tested by an independent security-testing lab.
About Cryptography Research, Inc.
Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), a division of Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS), 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 Riscure
Riscure is a globally recognized and independent security test laboratory. Riscure is specialized in evaluating and testing the security of smart cards and connected devices that are designed to operate securely in any environment and under all circumstances. Riscure offers these services in different markets such as payment, content protection, conditional access, telecom and automotive. Besides that, Riscure develops and maintains security test tools. Inspector, Riscure’s side channel analysis and fault injection test tool is used by manufacturers and research labs to evaluate the resistance of chips against high attack potential. Additional information is available at www.riscure.com.