Hardware-based software-resilient user privacy exploiting ephemeral data retention of volatile memory

Abstract

Various features relate to the providing Software-Resilient User Privacy within smartphones or other devices by storing and processing all pertinent values needed for user privacy—such as security keys and access attempt counters—in hardware, such as within a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) processor formed on an integrated circuit (IC). For example, an on-die ephemeral Volatile Memory (eVM) device may be employed for storing access attempt counters or other parameters used to control malicious attack countermeasures. In one example, the eVM employs static random-access memory (SRAM) formed on the die and exploits capacitive remanence to recover stored counter values even if power is disconnected, then reconnected. On-chip NVM may be used for permanent storage of other privacy values, such as a device-unique secret key that is generated locally on the device and not known to the chip vendor, the device Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)) or the owner/user of the device.