Arm Limited

Stephane Zonza

Nicolaas Klarinus Johannes Van Winkelhoff

Carlo Dario Fanara

Jean-Baptiste Brelot

Bastien Jean Claude Aghetti

Yannick Marc Nevers

Yohann Fred Arifidy Rabefarihy

A memory, a data processing system comprising a memory, a method of operating a memory and a memory compiler apparatus and method of memory compilation are provided, which relate to a memory comprising data storage circuitry to store data values at data locations. Addressing circuitry is provided to access the data value at a storage location in dependence on a received address and readout circuitry to provide an output value in dependence on the accessed data value. The memory further comprises scrambling circuitry to select at least one of: a mapping between the address and the storage location; and a mapping between the data value and the output value, in dependence on a received scrambling value. The mapping between the address and the storage location and/or the data value and the output value can thus be easily and rapidly changed.

Dynamic memory scrambling

An apparatus and method are provided for enhancing resilience to attacks on reset of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one storage element, and update circuitry that is configured to receive obscuring data, and which is responsive to a reset event to store in each of the at least one storage element a data value that is dependent on the current value of the obscuring data. For each such storage element, this ensures that the data value stored in that storage element is unpredictable following each reset event, thereby preventing the reproducibility of certain steps that would typically be taken by an attacker during an attack on the apparatus.

Apparatus and method for providing resilience to attacks on reset of the apparatus

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Cannes, France

Stephane Zonza