Defcon's new badge is a security key you can see inside
Summary
The Defcon hacker conference is giving attendees new badges featuring an open source chip called Baochip-1x, designed by hardware expert Andrew "bunnie" Huang. This chip allows users to visibly inspect its internal workings using infrared light, making it more secure and trustworthy than traditional black-box chips.Key Facts
- Defcon badges usually include complex puzzles and electronics, but this year's badge focuses on the chip inside.
- The Baochip-1x is an open source microcontroller designed for security and transparency.
- Huang published the chip’s operating system, firmware, processor core, and cryptographic engines on GitHub for public review.
- The chip's casing allows infrared light to pass through, enabling visual inspection of its internal circuits, unlike normal opaque chips.
- This feature helps users verify the chip matches its published design and detect any unauthorized changes.
- Manufacturing the chip used a cost-sharing method, combining it with another company’s chip run to save money.
- Attendees at Defcon can see demonstrations inspecting the chip using infrared light.
- The badge’s chip can be removed and used later as a hardware security token for added security.
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