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???
05/03/07 20:28
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 		 #138560 - Reverse engineering bitstreams
Responding to: ???'s previous message
If someone had the technical expertise to reverse engineer Lynn's bitstream, wouldn't they have the expertise needed to just make their own instead? And more importantly, and this is the part I'm really curious about, wouldn't it be easier for them to make their own instead? I guess what I'm asking is, wouldn't someone willing to try reverse engineering a bitstream be no real threat in the first place?

There are two different skill sets with reverse engineering a bitstream and creating an 8051 microprocessor. The bit stream reverse engineering is a massive software task, with both programming and run-time issues. The 8051 core is mainly thought, and a couple of Verilog case statements.

Having said that, I'm not overly worried about security. Even if I published my core on Digg (next to the HD encryption code), who would take it and try to start a semiconductor company to run me out of business? There are free 8051 cores out there already. I don't think that anyone is really all that eager to get mine.

All that I am trying to do is to make sure that if you need a low cost replacement for the FPGA version, then you come to me. Or just give me a few bucks, and you can go to OKI, AMIS, or whoever. I'm easy.


List of 31 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
Shameless attempt for marketing feedback            01/01/70 00:00      
   I cannot see where the sales would come from            01/01/70 00:00      
      Jez can\'t, I can            01/01/70 00:00      
         devices/boards rather than bitstream            01/01/70 00:00      
            DMA question            01/01/70 00:00      
               me?            01/01/70 00:00      
   when You start?            01/01/70 00:00      
   I think            01/01/70 00:00      
      C and bitstream            01/01/70 00:00      
         another question            01/01/70 00:00      
            Emulator            01/01/70 00:00      
               I would, or no sell            01/01/70 00:00      
                  throw away JTAG            01/01/70 00:00      
                     who cares how the emulator connects, the important            01/01/70 00:00      
                        the marketing dept. cares            01/01/70 00:00      
                           RTFM            01/01/70 00:00      
                              if you want to sell the chips...            01/01/70 00:00      
         Security            01/01/70 00:00      
            Reverse Engineering            01/01/70 00:00      
               If you're worried about IP ...            01/01/70 00:00      
                  the "experts"            01/01/70 00:00      
               Reverse engineering bitstreams            01/01/70 00:00      
            security of fpga designs is taken seriously            01/01/70 00:00      
   Well, what I'd go for ...            01/01/70 00:00      
   at least it keeps the honest people honest            01/01/70 00:00      
      This is where people misunderstand the difficulty            01/01/70 00:00      
         Now there IS nonvolatile storage            01/01/70 00:00      
            yes nonvolatile, but unaccessible            01/01/70 00:00      
               Is that a problem, Jan?            01/01/70 00:00      
                  this depends on the technology            01/01/70 00:00      
                     It's all one package ...            01/01/70 00:00      

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