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eeprom content is protected? — Parallax Forums

eeprom content is protected?

RobiRobi Posts: 2
edited 2006-05-22 15:56 in Propeller 1
Hi All!

The Propeller's external eeprom is code protected?

Robi

Comments

  • cgraceycgracey Posts: 14,206
    edited 2006-05-18 07:19
    No. It could be copied.
    Robi said...
    Hi All!

    The Propeller's external eeprom is code protected?

    Robi
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    Chip Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • RobiRobi Posts: 2
    edited 2006-05-18 09:50
    How can i protect my program?
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2006-05-18 10:02
    There's no easy way to do it.

    The only thing I can think of is encasing the Propeller and EEPROM in Epoxy, and making bl**dy certain that the pins used to program the Propeller is unavailable anywhere on the PCB.

    Of course, as what is stored on the EEPROM is Spin Tokens, it's not that easy to convert it back to readable source, even if they manage to read the EEPROM.

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    Don't visit my new website...
  • FORDFORD Posts: 221
    edited 2006-05-18 11:44
    It would be very simple to copy an Eeprom (especially a dip) to another Eeprom, and steal propeller code.

    I will be doing the following for our commercial stuff...

    If you have a spare i/o pin, you·could just put a 1wire serial id chip on the pcb and make the prop check the id number of the chip, then compare it to the id number·coded into·the prop program. I'm not sure of the part number of the chip, but I can get the number for you, ansd they are not too expensive.

    You could 'sprinkle' the 8 bytes of chip id throughout the program a bit to break the number up, in case it could be seen in the memory map (not sure if thats the case).

    Good for security, but not so good if you want to make large numbers of exactly the same product.

    Cheers,
    Chris
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2006-05-18 12:44
    Yes, the ID would be visible in the map, but only if you know what to look for.

    It still wouldn't be much more difficult to hack the code, though.

    If you're going to use this method(and the DS2401 Silicone Serial Number), please remove any marking from the top. Preferably place it among other similar chips which has also had their markings removed.
    (Either the TO-92 'transistor' package, or the SOT-223)

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    Don't visit my new website...
  • Kaos KiddKaos Kidd Posts: 614
    edited 2006-05-20 04:59
    ANY chip is hackable... Been there... Done that... and made a lot of money proving it can be done.
    If the code is so important, do yourself a favor and change uCTRLRs.
    Least you forget, security means two things and only two things:
    #1: It slows down the valid user.
    #2: It slows down the hacker.

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    Just tossing my two bits worth into the bit bucket


    KK
    ·
  • FORDFORD Posts: 221
    edited 2006-05-21 23:36
    KK,
    Forgive my ignorance...

    what does "do yourself a favor and change uCTRLRs".. mean.

    Cheers,
    Chris
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-05-21 23:56
    microcontrollers

    IOW, choose another microcontroller if the false sense of security from protected code is your desire.

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    1+1=10
  • FORDFORD Posts: 221
    edited 2006-05-22 02:41
    Duh !!... sorry guys, gotcha now.

    I'll be staying with the prop for our future developments, parallax·has been too good to me for the past 8 years to even consider reinventing our equipment with any other brand.

    Cheers,
    Chris
  • Kaos KiddKaos Kidd Posts: 614
    edited 2006-05-22 15:56
    FORD:
    I love the propeller... and how it works. It would take more then just a security issue to force me from the propeller...

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    Just tossing my two bits worth into the bit bucket


    KK
    ·
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