A boot read only memory (ROM) chip unit can perform a secure boot routine based on various operations. A processor device comprises a boot ROM chip with processing circuitry on a system board configured to perform a system board power up according to a read operation in a one-time-programmable OTP memory/non-volatile memory (NVM). The OTP memory/NVM includes a spare area in a portion of the OTP/NVM that can receive a first sequence pattern. The processor determines whether a secure boot indication indicates a secure boot routine, and differentiates one or more read return content of the OTP memory/NVM between a wrongly read return content and a trusted read return content, in response to, or concurrent with, the secure boot indication indicating the secure boot routine.