METHOD OF PROTECTING CONFIGURATION FILES FOR PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CIRCUITS FROM DECRYPTION AND CIRCUIT IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

摘要

A method for protecting a programmable logic circuit includes storing data file(s) used for the configuration of the programmable resources of the circuit in a non-volatile memory after having been encrypted. A decryption module internal to the circuit is responsible for decrypting the file(s) by using a secret key stored in the circuit, the decryption module being protected against attacks aiming to obtain the key during the decryption operation by implementing at least one countermeasure technique.