Extract IC & Anti-IC Extracting Technology

Extract IC and Anti-IC extracting technology has also been applied on the smartcard industry.

Those electronic components and module with anti-tamper functions can provide better protection against the IC extract. Such as the iBUTTON from DALAS . it will place the IC upon side of metal, use as the sensor for battery and tampering. Once the tampering action has been detected in the process of IC extract, the internal memorizer will be wiped out, and prevent the sensible datas to be extracted by the IC extracter. Another example is from the security block on the bank ATM machine, such as IBM4758, it has a better anti-tampering ability, it has radiation and low temperature sensor which can provide multiple ways to prevent the IC extract. These products are much more expensive than the smartcard, but it can at the same time provide better protection. However, IC extracter can get its security code through taking advantage of its software flaw.

There is also another big drawback compare with microcontroller IC as well as a big advantage is can prevent the non-invasive IC extract effortlessly. Smartcard IC normally has only ISO7816 interface, and seldom of it has the unique I/O interface. Which makes most of the applications can’t be substituted by microcontroller IC and make IC extract becomes more difficult which can only be used as the protection against sensitive signature data storage and intelligent patent protection. But it also doesn’t fit for the application with a lot of I/O, such as the pay card or door security system.