Extract IC Protection Method

 

Extract IC and extract IC embedded firmware need to know the part number, this is a most important information a IC extracter should obtain in the first place. Without it, the IC extract process can’t be proceed immediately.

In order to prevent the unauthorized IC extract, some of the IC manufacturers will wipe out the marking on the TOP side of IC. But lots of IC manufacturers will print the marking on the backside of IC, such as ATMEL, and print the internal code on the backside of IC. IC extracter is very easy to infer internal code and make the proper matchment with the real part number of IC when extract IC. Some of the designer will make a further improvement on this method, they will not only wipe out the marking on the IC before extract, but also print their own marking which can make them seems more like ASIC. As we all know, extract ASIC IC could take much more cost than others, which makes only a small part of IC extracters can finally distinguish the part number of IC.

Some of the IC designer will print the new marking on the IC to prevent the IC extract. for example, there is a IC applied on the electronic game machine, the IC on the printed circuit board has been viewed as a IC to prevent extract IC with high level of security, it actually is a CPLD with lower security which has been reprinted with other markings.

From the above pictures we can see that, the marking on the top side of IC is quite similar with the ACTEL IC but only a little difference to prevent IC extracter do the related evaluation. But from the bottom side of IC, it is totally different, but its marking is quite similar to XILINX markings. This Extract IC prevention method is quite smart but has already broken the patent right law which could probably get sued by the XILINX IC manufacturer or ACTEL IC manufacturers.