Nondeterministic Multithreading

Author

Leadbitter, P. ; Page, D. ; Smart, N.P.

Author_Institution

Univ. of Bristol, Bristol

Volume

56

Issue

7

fYear

2007

fDate

7/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

992

Lastpage

998

Abstract

The physical security of application-specific embedded processors such as those found in smart-cards has become increasingly important since they are used more and more as conduits for sensitive financial and identity information. The advent of side-channel attacks has meant that a combination of algorithm, software, and hardware defense is required. In this paper, we reexamine the issue of nondeterministic processors, simplifying previous designs using a multithreaded architecture. From this simplification, we are able to construct a formally reasoned assessment of the security level offered by such a device.

Keywords

computer architecture; cryptography; embedded systems; multi-threading; multiprocessing systems; NONDET-UHMT design; application-specific embedded processor security; cryptography; multithreaded architecture; nondeterministic multithreading; side-channel attacks; Concrete; Energy consumption; Hardware; Information analysis; Information security; Monitoring; Multithreading; Process design; Software algorithms; Timing; Side-channel analysis; multithreaded processors.;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computers, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9340

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TC.2007.1049

Filename

4216296