Protect the code

[NF9Ω]

http://www.mcucrack.com/ and http://www.waferstar.com/en/index.shtml doing this job for all microcontrollers.

I know some devices extract code from AT51/52 micro.
Just insert microcontroller, Press start button, and all code save in 24c64 in 4 min.
I always protect microcontroller to apply 24v 10ma power source only once to eny pin of PORT0 ( that are not used )with respect ground , No one extract code after this.

[RussMartin]

http://www.mcucrack.com/ and http://www.waferstar.com/en/index.shtml doing this job for all microcontrollers.

Zhonghai (the first link) uses what they call "intruded crack"--that involves going in and looking at the physical die. Not much protection against that. Wafer (the second link) doesn't seem to show anything on cracking. What did I miss on that site?

I always protect microcontroller to apply 24v 10ma power source only once to eny pin of PORT0 ( that are not used )with respect ground , No one extract code after this.

This sounds interesting. Can you describe why and how this works to protect code? Does this prevent just reading the code? What about the invasive ("intruded crack") approach--can't someone still recover the code by microscopic examination of the die?

[NF9Ω]

If you write to weferstar for code recovery they will quote rates.

No one can escape from microscopic examination of the die.

[Jerson]

My understanding is that IP (intellectual property) theft right now is worst (and rampant) in China and in India: In China because IP theft is almost a way of life in engineering and technology, and in India (Jerson, correct me if this is wrong) because their laws and court system have not kept pace with the development of technology.

In India, the laws are in place, but implementation is a different game altogether. Today, India is moving way ahead in terms of R&D and many companies favour indigenous development. I would say, part of that effort involves looking at superior products for inspiration. But, yet, there are folks who make their living using plain old cracking of ics for their living. They have even got so brazen as to advertise themselves in local magazines in the past. The charges of hacking the code is proportional to the benefit you would get by hacking it (thats how it works).

I do not know if burning a port pin helps, but it sounds good to me. At least it won't be read by these flimsy techniques. Obviously, the port you blow should be directly linked to the programming data port - isn't it?

[jason]

Ya that would be the most secure, if you fry the data pin for example. I heard of a guy who did that and never ruined a chip yet. But that prevents you from firmware updates and such. I am using the 18F6722, I'm wondering if that chip is even able to crack yet. I understand the older chips are easy. But from my understanding, the newer chips you can't crack them with the power glitch. Is this true ?

[RussMartin]

Here's the answer I received from my E-mail inquiry:

Hello Russ,

- Flash PIC Reader-Copier I / II price is 12000,- EUR
AVR I Reader is 15000,- EUR

- Please reffer to the web site www.semiresearch.com

- Guarantee is 12 month, no updates available.

Regards,
Anatoli Vulf
Radiolinija,UAB
Jasinskio str.17, Vilnius, LT-01111, Lithuania
Web: http://www.semiresearch.com
Email: [email protected]
GSM +37069910000
Tel. +37052685564
Fax +37052122757

Since a Euro right now is about US$1.36, that puts the PIC readers at over US$16,000 each. That strikes me as exorbitant, since the model I reads only 11 devices and the model II reads only 4.

[BobP]

Hello,

My friend is about to send a sample of his product using an 18F2620. I know he has paid good money for a professional software writer to write his code. Now after me showing him this thread he is worried!

He is about to send a sample for evaluation to a medium size company based in the UK. With the potential for them to purchase and resell. This company seems respectable! But it has its own R&D department. In the view of the forums users (Crystal Ball time) should he be worried? Is there anything else other than the inbuilt code protection he could do?

I have little experience of this as I have the perfect code protection!!! Anything I have written is so poor to be of any value to anyone else……

Thanks,
Bob

[RussMartin]

My friend is about to send a sample of his product using an 18F2620. I know he has paid good money for a professional software writer to write his code. Now after me showing him this thread he is worried!

He is about to send a sample for evaluation to a medium size company based in the UK. With the potential for them to purchase and resell. This company seems respectable! But it has its own R&D department. In the view of the forums users (Crystal Ball time) should he be worried? Is there anything else other than the inbuilt code protection he could do?

Foremost, your friend should have an attorney (in the UK, that's a solicitor, right?) who specializes in intellectual property (IP) and can advise and assist him.

I can't speak for others, but I no longer sell any design outright; I retain ownership and license the product to the client.