Detecting counterfeit chips

摘要

In a world where the risks of counterfeit or tainted information and communication technology (IGT) are ever-present, I propose a call to action: ICT original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and our brethren in the semiconductor industry should embark on a coordinated effort to share chip identification information. What would such coordination achieve? Today, semiconductor manufacturers use a variety of physically unclone-able functions (PUFs) to uniquely identify chips. Ideally, such unique identifiers, with some compilation and controlled disclosure, would allow ICT OEMs to leverage those identities to create "fingerprints" at higher levels (e.g., printed circuit board and system levels).