A team of KAUST scientists has designed an integrated circuit logic lock that could represent a leap forward in protecting our electronic devices from cyberattacks. Credit: © 2022 KAUST; Heno Hwang
“The need for hardware-based security features reflects the globalized nature of modern electronics manufacture,” explains Yehia Massoud from KAUST. Electronics companies usually employ large specialized, external foundries to produce their chips, which minimizes costs but introduces potential vulnerabilities to the supply chain.
Logic locking works like a combination lock, Divyanshu explains. Unless the correct “key” combination signal is supplied to the lock, the circuit’s operation is scrambled. “The keys to the lock are stored in tamper-proof memory, ensuring hardware security against several threat models,” Divyanshu says.
Spin-based devices have several advantages compared to conventional silicon components, Massoud notes, including low operational voltage and no power consumption during standby. “With the advancement in fabrication methods, the possibility of using emerging spintronic device structures in the chip design has increased,” he adds. “These properties make spintronic devices a potential choice for exploring hardware security.