Implementation Attacks
IAIK has a long experience in the field of implementation attacks. In the year 1999, only shortly after the discovery of side-channel attacks, which is a special type of implementation attacks, researchers of IAIK started to analyze side-channel analysis (SCA) attacks on cryptographic devices and to develop corresponding countermeasures. The actvities were at that time summarized in the so-called "SCA Lab". In 2006, IAIK broadened its focus in implementation attacks and started to look also into fault attacks, probing attacks, and corresponding countermeasures. All these activities are combined in IAIK's Implementation Attacks Laboratory (IMPA Lab).
Introduction to Implementation Attacks
Implementation attacks are a type of cryptanalysis attacks that do not target cryptographic algorithms and protocols directly. These attacks rather aim at implementations of cryptographic systems (e.g. smart cards, USB tokens) to gain knowledge about secret information.
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The Implementation Attacks Laboratory (IMPA Lab)
All activities of IAIK in the field of implementation attacks are combined in the Implemantation Attacks Laboratory (IMPA Lab). Besides academic research, maintenance of the lab infrastructure, and mentoring of student projects and master theses, members of the lab provide consulting services for all aspects of implementation attacks.
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IMPA Lab Infrastructure
Various controlling, measurement, analysis, and manipulating devices are necessary to perform implementation attacks. Different design tools assist in developing and implementing devices that are resistant against implementation attacks.
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One of the key developments of the IMPA Lab is a Side-Channel Analysis Toolbox (SCA Toolbox) for Matlab®. This toolbox supports all steps of SCA attacks.
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Research Projects & Partners
The IMPA Lab cooperates with various academic and industrial institutions in different national and international research projects to advance and push developments in the field of implementation attacks and countermeasures.
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Publications & Theses
The research outcomes of the IMPA Lab are regularly published at national and international conferences and workshops, in journals, and in books. Also Master and PhD theses in the field of implementation attacks are mentored by members of the IMPA Lab.
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Members of the lab have written a comprehensive book about one of the most powerful type of side-channel attacks called power analysis attacks. This book is published by Springer.
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Topics for Student Projects & Master Theses
The IMPA Lab is always looking for highly motivated students that are interested to do a project or a master thesis in the field of implementation attacks. The available topics are typically closely related to our current research projects.
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