Defending Smart Cards Against Attacks by Redundant Processing

摘要

A method is provided which defends a computer program against attacks independently of the complexity of the program. A request to invoke the application is received. A process execution state is set to indicate a first execution. The application is executed in response to the request, and application data and control information calculated by the application is stored while the application is executed. The process execution state is set to indicate a subsequent execution. At least part of the application is executed for at least one subsequent time. Application data and control information calculated by the application during subsequent executions is compared with the data/information stored during first execution. The comparison is done by operation system services which are responsive to the process execution state. When the comparison shows a discrepancy in the compared application data and control information, appropriate error handling takes place.