Anti-counterfeiting, key distribution, and key storage in an ambient world via physical unclonable functions

Abstract

Virtually all applications which provide or require a security service need a secret key. In an ambient world, where (potentially) sensitive information is continually being gathered about us, it is critical that those keys be both securely deployed and safeguarded from compromise. In this paper, we provide solutions for secure key deployment and storage of keys in sensor networks and radio frequency identification systems based on the use of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). In addition, to providing an overview of different existing PUF realizations, we introduce a PUF realization aimed at ultra-low cost applications. We then show how the properties of Fuzzy Extractors or Helper Data algorithms can be used to securely deploy secret keys to a low cost wireless node. Our protocols are more efficient (round complexity) and allow for lower costs compared to previously proposed ones. We also provide an overview of PUF applications aimed at solving the counterfeiting of goods and devices.

Physically Unclonable Functions: A Study on the State of the Art and Future Research Directions

“…Contrarily to RF-DNA, the LC PUF construction is intrinsically a (passive) electrical circuit and not a random arrangement of copper wire. Experimental data from 500 circuits presented in [16] shows a reproducibility of the resonance peak below 1M Hz at a constant temperature and an entropy content between 9 and 11 bits per circuit.…”

“…An LC PUF [16] is constructed as a small (≈ 1mm 2 ) glass plate with a metal plate on each side, forming a capacitor, serially chained with a metal coil on the plate acting as an inductive component. Together they form a passive LC circuit which will absorb an amount of power when placed in a RF field.…”

Novel Physically-Embedded Data Encryption for Embedded Device

“…Through its distinct merits, PUF can be used to enhance cryptograph security (such as generating high quality random numbers [9] and more reliable key generation/storage [10,11]), or the purpose of identification [12], or other security related applications [13]. Although a PUF unit can be implemented through many possible ways, the silicon chip oriented PUF generation structure can be generally classified as: attaching non-electronic components, attaching analog-electronic component, non-attaching, and attaching digital-electronic components.…”

Cocoon-PUF, a novel mechatronic secure element technology

“…Coating techniques propose using randomly doped dielectric particles resulting with unpredictable capacitance distribution [14]. RF susceptible resonator circuitry make use of integrated capacitors and coils providing strong resonance peaks called LC-PUFs [15]. A fascinating work is the Radio-Frequency-Certificate-Of-Authenticity (RF-COA) approach presented by Darko Kirovski, Gerald Dejean et al [16][17][18].…”