Chip security undermined by Cambridge boffin

NEWS Boffins at Cambridge University have discovered a vulnerability in chip design which they say will lead to a total rethink of chip security. Sergei Skorobogatov, a PhD student at Cambridge's computer labs, has perfected an attack using a focused beam of energy on a transistor which can then circumvent chip security. This could have serious repercussions on the security of chips, and particularly smartcards. While the theoretical vulnerability has been known about for years, nobody has yet been able to exploit it with any precision. However, Skorobogatov has developed a low-tech way to target transistors with high precision, putting the exploit within the reach of any dedicated cracker. He focused his beam of energy using just a microscope and a camera flash. Dr Ross Anderson, leader of the security group at Cambridge computer labs, said in a statement the work will trigger a generation change in smartcard technology. Anderson said the team has kept the work under wraps for a year until new chips could be designed to counter the vulnerability.