Security and trust in the analog/mixed-signal/RF domain: A survey and a perspective

Abstract

We summarize and present the available body of knowledge in trusted and secure design of analog/mixed-signal/ radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits (ICs) and intellectual properties (IPs), covering both known vulnerabilities and available remedies. Furthermore, we discuss the limitations of the current state-of-the-art in this topic, highlight the concomitant risks, and suggest research directions and steps to be taken towards designing, fabricating and deploying trusted and secure analog/mixed-signal/RF circuits. More specifically, a comprehensive survey of the relevant literature is provided, organized around three themes: (i) hardware Trojans and Trojan states in analog/mixed-signal/RF ICs along with existing detection/prevention methods, (ii) analog/mixed-signal/RF IC/IP reverse engineering and counterfeiting, as well as techniques for proving authenticity and ownership, and (iii) limitations of existing methods in the analog/mixed-signal (AMS) and RF domain, focusing on the gaps that exist in our current understanding of this problem and potential directions towards filling them and mitigating the threats in AMS/RF ICs/IPs.