Microchip Introduces CodeGuard Security Feature to Procect user Code

Segments code into three protected segments. It looks like they did this specifically to
meet Automotive requirements, but I see it getting a good reception over a broad range
of applications.

Of course, I added a pretty picture because, well, that's the kind of guy I am...

http://www.microcontroller.com/news/microchip_codeguard.asp

Regards,

Bill Giovino
Executive Editor
http://Microcontroller.com

Bill Giovino wrote:
> Segments code into three protected segments. It looks like they did this specifically to
> meet Automotive requirements, but I see it getting a good reception over a broad range
> of applications.
>
> Of course, I added a pretty picture because, well, that's the kind of guy I am...
>
> http://www.microcontroller.com/news/microchip_codeguard.asp
>
> Regards,
>
> Bill Giovino
> Executive Editor
> http://Microcontroller.com

Interesting, but hardly new. Updated to account for current needs,
though.

Here's an interesting thought: Microchip says all the sections can be
updated using their encryption libs; when that's cracked (we know it's
only a matter of time), will Microchip then tout their new, 'more
secure' version?

;)
Cheers

PeteS

Bill Giovino wrote:
> Segments code into three protected segments. It looks like they did this specifically to
> meet Automotive requirements, but I see it getting a good reception over a broad range
> of applications.
> 
> Of course, I added a pretty picture because, well, that's the kind of guy I am...
> 
> http://www.microcontroller.com/news/microchip_codeguard.asp

  Sounds good on first scan, but with this scheme, how do they handle 
version control and debug ?.

  Or, do those problems just quietly vanish in the Microchip world :)

  Starts to sounds like 'windows on a chip', with  lots of scope for 
"not our problem, that's in the Boot Segment" - and a uC version of DLL 
hell, all on one die!

-jg

"PeteS" wrote...
> Bill Giovino wrote:
> > Segments code into three protected segments. It looks like they did this
specifically to
> > meet Automotive requirements, but I see it getting a good reception over a broad
range
> > of applications.
> >
> > Of course, I added a pretty picture because, well, that's the kind of guy I am...
> >
> > http://www.microcontroller.com/news/microchip_codeguard.asp
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Bill Giovino
> > Executive Editor
> > http://Microcontroller.com
>
> Interesting, but hardly new. Updated to account for current needs,
> though.
>
> Here's an interesting thought: Microchip says all the sections can be
> updated using their encryption libs; when that's cracked (we know it's
> only a matter of time), will Microchip then tout their new, 'more
> secure' version?
>
> ;)
> Cheers
>
> PeteS
>

Typically, to crack things like this, there needs to be some info leaked from the inside
the company, like the 68HC05 reset pin hack years ago. Other times, you've got to de-cap
the part and start playing with lasers and microscopes, like Samsung used to do with
National Semiconductor's GALs oh-so long ago.

Nowadays, it's easy for semiconductor manufacturers to make things difficult enough so
that it's financially, and legally, unfeasible to break the encryption - just look at
SmartCards.



Bill Giovino
Executive Editor
http://Microcontroller.com