Cryptography Research Licenses Differential Power Analysis Countermeasures Patents to NXP

Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI) today announced an agreement with NXP B.V. regarding the use of CRI´s patents to enhance the security of NXP´s tamper–resistant smart card chips against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and related attacks.

Under the agreement, NXP receives the freedom to use CRI´s patents as part of its strategy to develop and enhance its secure chips and related software for smart cards and other security–conscious applications. The license also covers software executing on NXP chips, allowing NXP´s customers to develop their own security countermeasures without a separate license from CRI.

"We are pleased that NXP has chosen to license our DPA countermeasures patent portfolio," said Kit Rodgers, vice president of licensing at CRI. "The license will help NXP and its customers deliver secure products for smart cards and a variety of other applications."

DPA is a form of attack that involves monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. Strong countermeasures to DPA help protect keys contained in tamper–resistant devices, such as smart cards or electronic IDs, which may be used in banking, pay television, mass transit, secure ID, wireless telecommunications and other industries.

Cryptography Research has been awarded a portfolio of patents covering countermeasures to DPA attacks, including U.S. patents #6,278,783; #6,298,442; #6,304,658; #6,327,661; #6,381,699; #6,510,518; #6,539,092; #6,654,884 and other U.S. and international patents pending.

About Cryptography Research, Inc.

Cryptography Research, Inc. provides technology to solve complex security problems. In addition to security evaluation and applied engineering work, the company is actively involved in long–term research and technology licensing in areas including content protection, tamper resistance, network security and financial services. Security systems designed by Cryptography Research engineers protect more than USD 100 billion of commerce annually for wireless, telecommunications, financial, entertainment, digital television and Internet industries. For additional information, please visit http://www.cryptography.com