Lab at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory focuses on the hardware aspects of computer and communication security. Experience shows that the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities in modern information security systems result from implementation defects, user errors and poorly understood characteristics of computer hardware.
Hardware security is a particularly neglected field.
Hardware vendors have often made claims about the tamper resistance or even the correct functioning of their products which turned out to be unjustified, and the lack of published information about attack techniques made it difficult for customers to evaluate their claims. Yet we see the designers of newly fielded systems making the mistakes over and over again. Research in hardware security requires a broad range of capabilities. This includes not only classical cryptography and computer security know-how, but also expertise in physics, chemistry, material sciences, microelectronics, communication systems and signal processing. It often requires the construction of specialised equipment, and it usually takes some practice to acquire laboratory skills - especially where attacks involve techniques such as microprobing silicon chips, analysing unintended radio frequency emanations or the disassembly of software.