Cryptology ePrint Archive: Report 2009/419

An Efficient Method for Random Delay Generation in Embedded Software

Jean-Sébastien Coron and Ilya Kizhvatov

Abstract: Random delays are a countermeasure against a range of side channel and fault attacks that is often implemented in embedded software. We propose a new method for generation of random delays and a criterion for measuring the efficiency of a random delay countermeasure. We implement this new method along with the existing ones on an 8-bit platform and mount practical side-channel attacks against the implementations. We show that the new method is significantly more secure in practice than the previously published solutions and also more lightweight.

Category / Keywords: implementation / side channel attacks, countermeasures, random delays

Publication Info: This is an updated version of the paper that will appear in the proceedings of CHES 2009

Date: received 28 Aug 2009

Contact author: ilya kizhvatov at uni lu

Available formats: PDF | BibTeX Citation

Version: 20090901:065525 (All versions of this report)

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