Recently, Infineon introduced the first TPM security chip that uses post-quantum encryption technology for firmware updates.

Today, almost all electronic devices that people use are powered by firmware. At present, wireless firmware updates are popular in the electric vehicle industry to break geographical restrictions and achieve fast and convenient. Digital signatures guarantee the validity of downloaded firmware updates, but with the development of quantum computing, in the future hackers may use quantum technology to forge a seemingly valid firmware update and insert malicious functions into it.

Therefore, while quantum computing will bring people high speed and convenience in the future, it will also have a significant impact on network security. Once hackers exploit quantum attacks, they will pose a major threat to the confidentiality of encrypted data and the integrity of digital signatures.

In order to prevent quantum attacks, Infineon launched this TPM security chip - OPTIGA TPM SLB 9672, which adopts post-quantum encryption technology, namely the latest anti-quantum digital signature algorithm XMSS, to further improve system security. According to foreign media reports, XMSS has been approved by the International Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), and the chip is the first commercial chip with the digital signature algorithm function built into the hardware. TPM security chip refers to a security chip that complies with the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) standard. It contains a variety of physical security mechanisms, has anti-tampering capabilities, and can effectively protect devices from unauthorized user access. Among other things, they store and generate cryptographic keys and ensure that firmware and operating system components can be verified, measured and logged in the TPM at system startup. Such chips are already widely used in modern personal computers and other electronic systems.

On this basis, the key length of the chip launched by Infineon reaches 256 bits, which can not only resist attacks launched by hackers using quantum computers and protect the firmware from damage, but also its anti-quantum computing firmware upgrade method can ensure that the device Available for a long time. In addition, the chip has a failsafe feature that eliminates the effects of corrupted firmware, improving computing performance.

According to Infineon, the chip is a standardized trustworthy platform module, equipped with various software and other tools, can be easily integrated with host software, and supports the latest versions of Windows and Linux systems at -40°C to 105°C Stable operation in temperature. The chip has a service life of at least 10 years, and the company will provide customers with customized technical support and maintenance services through the Infineon Security Partner Network (ISPN).

The launch of this chip is not the beginning of Infineon‘s exposure to quantum technology. Previously, they have worked with partners on several quantum-related projects. For example, the ATIQ project, which focuses on the development of an ion trap-based quantum computer demonstrator; the MuniQC-SC project, which is dedicated to the development of a superconductor-based quantum computer demonstrator; the QuaST project, which develops software tools to simplify user access to quantum computers ; The QVOL project mainly develops quantum sensors based on silicon carbide technology suitable for mass production.