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Data Encryption Isn't So Secure, After All

Researchers find easy method to steal protected information

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Feb 22, 2008 1:29 PM CST
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(Newser) – Accessing encrypted data can be as simple as chilling a computer memory chip, according to a Princeton research group. The researchers were able to break through encryption in Windows, Macintosh, and Linux operating systems, reports the New York Times, calling into question the security methods that companies, government agencies, and individuals use to protect data.

Information temporarily stored on DRAM chips, including keys to data scrambling, gets erased when power is lost—but only after seconds or even minutes. By blasting chips with cold air, the researchers were able to freeze that data in place, making it available long after power is cut off and allowing the chip to be moved to another machine with the information intact.

A circuit board with a S5 Wireless chip in the middle is held in front of a computer monitor at the company's headquarters Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
A circuit board with a S5 Wireless chip in the middle is held in front of a computer monitor at the company's headquarters Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, in Sandy, Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)   (Associated Press)
The new Opteron chip is seen in this photo released by Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AP Photo/ Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Tomas Pantin)
The new Opteron chip is seen in this photo released by Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AP Photo/ Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Tomas Pantin)   (Associated Press)
Three flash-based products from SanDisk Corporation were named honorees at the Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association. The awarded products include SanDisk's microSDHC 8-gigabyteGB flash storage card in the category of Wireless Handsets Accessories; SanDisk's 64-Gigabyte SATA 5000 2.5-inch solid-state drive (SSD) in...
Three flash-based products from SanDisk Corporation were named honorees at the Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association. The awarded products include...   (Associated Press)
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Read about the Princeton group's findings
Princeton University

 
Princeton University • data theft • Internet security • computer security • encryption • memory chips • computer memory

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