Abstract:
Random values can be very beneficial in systems needing to generate random number or encryption keys. Systems and methods are presented herein that can generate a random value based on errors in data. For example, an error vector can be generated when data having errors (e.g. stored data, data received by a receiver, etc.) is compared with corresponding corrected data. A circuit, such as a data channel, can generate the corrected data by applying error correcting codes to the data with errors. One or more error vectors may be used to produce a random value. In some cases, multiple error vectors can be combined to produce a random value.
Abstract:
Security techniques may be selectively performed on data based on a classification of the data. One example technique includes receiving a memory access command specifying a target data block on a storage medium storing both security data and non-security data. The technique further includes determining whether data affected by the access command is security data. Response to such determination, one of multiple data management schemes is selected to implement the memory access command, where each of the data management schemes is adapted to implement the memory access command via a different series of processing operations to provide a different level of security protection for data affected by the memory access command.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for data security in a data storage device. In some embodiments, an alternating pattern is written to a magnetic recording medium as a sequence of symbols at a selected clock rate. A repeatable magnetic signature is generated by reading the alternating pattern from the medium, the magnetic signature having relatively weak entropy at boundaries of the symbols. A multi-bit digital sequence is extracted from the repeatable magnetic signature, the digital sequence having relatively strong entropy. The digital sequence is stored in a separate memory coupled to the medium. Access to data stored on the medium is authenticated responsive to the digital sequence stored in the separate memory.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for generating random numbers. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a random number generator circuit that generates a random number responsive to a total number of programming pulses used to transition a solid-state memory cell from a first programming state to a second programming state.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for generating random numbers. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a random number generator circuit that generates a random number responsive to a total number of programming pulses used to transition a solid-state memory cell from a first programming state to a second programming state.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for data security in a data storage device. In some embodiments, an alternating pattern is written to a magnetic recording medium as a sequence of symbols at a selected clock rate. A repeatable magnetic signature is generated by reading the alternating pattern from the medium, the magnetic signature having relatively weak entropy at boundaries of the symbols. A multi-bit digital sequence is extracted from the repeatable magnetic signature, the digital sequence having relatively strong entropy. The digital sequence is stored in a separate memory coupled to the medium. Access to data stored on the medium is authenticated responsive to the digital sequence stored in the separate memory.
Abstract:
Systems or methods can be used to detect evidence of tampering. The tampering can be physical tampering, such as the turning of a screw, or removal or modification of an electronic component. In some examples, a tamper detection value can be determined from a tamper detection device and compared to a predetermined tamper detection value to determine if tampering is indicated. The system can, upon detection of the tampering, halt an operation, disable device or circuit functionality, disable future operations, physically disable a device, or any combination thereof.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for generating random numbers. In accordance with some embodiments, a first multi-bit string of entropy values is derived from a first entropy source having a first trust level and a different, second multi-bit string of entropy values is derived from a second entropy source having a different, second trust level. The first and second multi-bit strings of entropy values are combined in relation to the associated first and second trust levels to generate a multi-bit random number. The multi-bit random number is used as an input to a cryptographic function.
Abstract:
Security techniques may be selectively performed on data based on a classification of the data. One example technique includes receiving a memory access command specifying a target data block on a storage medium storing both security data and non-security data. The technique further includes determining whether data affected by the access command is security data. Response to such determination, one of multiple data management schemes is selected to implement the memory access command, where each of the data management schemes is adapted to implement the memory access command via a different series of processing operations to provide a different level of security protection for data affected by the memory access command.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for calculating random values based on data errors are presented. A message collection circuit may collect sets of data having data errors and store them to a memory. The stored sets of data may then be processed to produce a random value based on errors in the sets of data. The random value(s) may be provided to random number generator(s), encryption circuit(s), or other circuit(s).