An Efficient Method for Random Delay Generation in Embedded Software

Random delays are a countermeasure against a range of side channel and fault attacks that is often implemented in embedded software. We propose a new method for generation of random delays and a criterion for measuring the efficiency of a random delay countermeasure. We implement this new method along with the existing ones on an 8-bit platform and mount practical side-channel attacks against the implementations. We show that the new method is significantly more secure in practice than the previously published solutions and also more lightweight. Key words: Side channel attacks, countermeasures, random delays

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: CHES
• Authors: Ilya Kizhvatov, Jean-Sébastien Coron
• Keywords: CHES 2009, Cryptography, Practical Side-channel Attacks, Random Delay Countermeasure, Random Delays