Practical Session: Differential Power Analysis for Beginners

Abstract

This tutorial will introduce you to the basics of the DPA (Differential Power Analysis)—a technique that exploits the dependency of the processed data on the power trace of the device to extract some secret information that would not be otherwise available. During the session you will learn how to process the power trace of the implementation of the AES encryption algorithm using an algebraic system (in our case MATLAB), create the power hypothesis, extract the secret information and also how to measure the power consumption of the embedded system (smart card) in order to obtain the power traces. The first part of the tutorial Differential Power Analysis—Key Recovery is aimed at explaining the creation of the power hypothesis and the use of algebraic systems. The second part of the tutorial DPA—measurement with an oscilloscope covers the practical part of the exercise—the measurement of the power consumption using the PicoScope.