CRI and Samsung sign DPA deal

Cryptography Research has signed an agreement with Samsung Electronics for the chip manufacturer to use CRI’s patents to enhance the security of its smart card chips against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and related attacks.

Under the agreement, Samsung can use CRI’s patents as part of its strategy to develop and enhance its security chips used in smart cards. The license also covers software executing on Samsung chips, allowing Samsung’s customers to develop their own security countermeasures without a separate license from CRI.

DPA is a form of attack that involves monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to DPA help protect smart cards used in applications such as secure ID, banking, pay TV, mass transit and wireless telecommunications.

Cryptography Research has been awarded a portfolio of approximately 50 patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks.