Tech

An increasing number of products utilize advanced microchips. They are found in everything from computers and mobile phones to vehicles and weapons systems. Even your toaster or coffee machine might contain a microchip.

As our society becomes ever more dependent on these tiny components, the risk of digital attacks also grows.

While most people are aware of the threat of cyberattacks and cyberterrorism, few are familiar with so-called hardware-based attacks. These do not necessarily involve terrorism; they could also entail industrial espionage, sabotage, or intelligence-gathering operations.

Examples of hardware-based attacks include hidden functions or vulnerabilities embedded into a microchip during its design or manufacturing phase. They can also involve the manipulation of the software that controls the chip’s functions.

The major challenge is that the product itself may show no visible faults or bugs. It can function exactly as expected while concealing features that could later be exploited to access sensitive information, or to influence or disrupt critical systems.