[Cryptech Tech] Alpha board BOM and PCB design requirements

[Peter Gutmann]

Bernd Paysan <bernd at net2o.de> writes:

>The pro side is that *all* you need is readily available: aluminium powder,
>Fe3O4 powder, sparklers (magnesium based fireworks), flower pots.

If you're thinking of adding this functionality to an HSM, don't.  A friend of
mine looked at active tamper response some years ago and made some informal
inquiries with a few federal agencies involved in regulating this sort of
thing.  Their response was "don't even think about it".

(US military gear has active tamper response, but it's generally in sealed
containers where no... byproduct escapes.  Also, since they're the military,
no-one complains about them shipping and storing pyrotechnic devices).

Peter.