Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more functional circuits, a debug circuit configured to implement one or more debug features for the one or more functional circuits, and a validation circuit. The validation circuit is configured to receive a request to access debug features, and to send an identification value corresponding to the apparatus. The validation circuit is further configured to receive a certificate generated by a server computer system, the certificate including encoded debug permissions, and to decode the debug permissions using the identification value. Using the decoded debug permissions, the validation circuit is further configured to enable one or more of the debug features.

Abstract: Secure secrets can be used, in one embodiment, to generate a master key. In one embodiment, a first secret value, generated and stored in a first secure element, can be used with a user's credential (e.g., a user's passcode) to generate, through a first key derivation function, a second secret value. A master key can then be generated through a second key derivation function based on the second secret value and a derived or stored secret such as a device's unique identifier.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to securing computing devices during boot. In various embodiments, a secure circuit of a computing device generates for a public key pair and signs, using a private key of the public key pair, configuration settings for an operating system of the computing device. A bootloader of the computing device receives a certificate for the public key pair from a certificate authority and initiates a boot sequence to load the operating system. The boot sequence includes the bootloader verifying the signed configuration settings using a public key included in the certificate and the public key pair. In some embodiments, the secure circuit cryptographically protects the private key based on a passcode of a user, the passcode being usable by the user to authenticate to the computing device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for securely pairing a secure element and a processor of an electronic device are provided. In one example embodiment, a method, at an electronic device, includes, inter alia, deriving a key using a processor of the electronic device, sharing the derived key with a commercial entity subsystem, and receiving the shared key from the commercial entity subsystem at a secure element of the electronic device, where the received key may be leveraged for enabling a secure communication channel between the processor and the secure element. Additional embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a first device performs ranging operations to allow a user to access the first device under one of several user accounts without providing device-access credentials. For example, when a second device is within a first distance of the first device, the first device determines that the second device is associated with a first user account under which a user can access (e.g., can log into) the first device. In response to the determination, the first device enables at least one substitute interaction (e.g., a password-less UI interaction) to allow the first device to be accessed without receiving access credentials through a user interface. In response to detecting an occurrence of the substitute interaction, the user is allowed to access the first device under the first user account. In some embodiments, the substitute interaction occurs while the first device is logged into under a second user account.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for a trusted (or originator) device to modify the security state of a target device (e.g., unlocking the device) based on a securing ranging operation (e.g., determining a distance, proximity, etc.). The method of some embodiments exchanges messages as a part of a ranging operation in order to to determine whether the trusted and target devices are within a specified range of each other before allowing the trusted device to modify the security state of the target device. In some embodiments, the messages are derived by both devices based on a shared secret and are used to verify the source of ranging signals used for the ranging operation. In some embodiments, the method is performed using multiple different frequency bands.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to the secure communication of devices. In one embodiment, a first device is configured to perform a pairing operation with a second device to establish a secure communication link between the first device and the second device. The pairing operation includes receiving firmware from the second device to be executed by the first device during communication over the secure communication link, and in response to a successful verification of the firmware, establishing a shared encryption key to be used by the first and second devices during the communication. In some embodiments, the pairing operation includes receiving a digital signature created from a hash value of the firmware and a public key of the second device, and verifying the firmware by extracting the hash value from the digital signature and comparing the extracted hash value with a hash value of the received firmware.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to secure data storage. In various embodiments, a mobile device includes a wireless interface, a secure element, and a secure circuit. The secure element is configured to store confidential information associated with a plurality of users and to receive a request to communicate the confidential information associated with a particular one of the plurality of users. The secure element is further configured to communicate, via the wireless interface, the confidential information associated with the particular user in response to an authentication of the particular user. The secure circuit is configured to perform the authentication of the particular user. In some embodiments, the mobile device also includes a biosensor configured to collect biometric information from a user of the mobile device. In such an embodiment, the secure circuit is configured to store biometric information collected from the plurality of users by the biosensor.

Abstract: A device may include a secure processor and a secure memory coupled to the secure processor. The secure memory may be inaccessible to other device systems. The secure processor may store some keys and/or entropy values in the secure memory and other keys and/or entropy values outside the secure memory. The keys and/or entropy values stored outside the secure memory may be encrypted using information stored inside the secure memory.

Abstract: Methods for operating a portable electronic device to conduct a mobile payment transaction at a merchant terminal are provided. The electronic device may verify that the current user of the device is indeed the authorized owner by requiring the current user to enter a passcode. If the user is able to provide the correct passcode, the device is only partly ready to conduct a mobile payment. In order for the user to fully activate the payment function, the user may have to supply a predetermined payment activation input such as a double button press that notifies the device that the user intends to perform a financial transaction in the immediate future. The device may subsequently activate a payment applet for a predetermined period of time during which the user may hold the device within a field of the merchant terminal to complete a near field communications based mobile payment transaction.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to the secure communication of devices. In one embodiment, a first device is configured to perform a pairing operation with a second device to establish a secure communication link between the first device and the second device. The pairing operation includes receiving firmware from the second device to be executed by the first device during communication over the secure communication link, and in response to a successful verification of the firmware, establishing a shared encryption key to be used by the first and second devices during the communication. In some embodiments, the pairing operation includes receiving a digital signature created from a hash value of the firmware and a public key of the second device, and verifying the firmware by extracting the hash value from the digital signature and comparing the extracted hash value with a hash value of the received firmware.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to biometric authentication, e.g., facial recognition. In some embodiments, a device is configured to verify that image data from a camera unit exhibits a pseudo-random sequence of image capture modes and/or a probing pattern of illumination points (e.g., from lasers in a depth capture mode) before authenticating a user based on recognizing a face in the image data. In some embodiments, a secure circuit may control verification of the sequence and/or the probing pattern. In some embodiments, the secure circuit may verify frame numbers, signatures, and/or nonce values for captured image information. In some embodiments, a device may implement one or more lockout procedures in response to biometric authentication failures. The disclosed techniques may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of spoofing and/or replay attacks, in some embodiments.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for changing a required authentication type based on a request for a particular type of information. For example, consider a situation where a user has asked a virtual assistant “who owns this device?” By default, the device may allow biometric authentication to unlock. In response to identification of the owner by the virtual assistant, however, the device may require one or more other types of authentication (e.g., manual entry of a passcode) to unlock the device. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may increase the security of the device by making it more difficult for malicious entities to obtain the sensitive information or to access device functionality once the sensitive information has been disclosed. In various embodiments, this may prevent or reduce unauthorized access to the device.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide, for a particular device in a set of related devices, a method for backing up data synchronized between the set of related devices. The method stores the backup data encrypted with a set of data encryption keys. The method also stores the set of data encryption keys encrypted with a master recovery key. The method also stores several copies of master recovery key data, each copy of the master recovery key data encrypted with a public key of a different one of the related devices. The backup data is only recoverable by accessing a private key of any one of the related devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for changing a required authentication type based on a request for a particular type of information. For example, consider a situation where a user has asked a virtual assistant “who owns this device?” By default, the device may allow biometric authentication to unlock. In response to identification of the owner by the virtual assistant, however, the device may require one or more other types of authentication (e.g., manual entry of a passcode) to unlock the device. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may increase the security of the device by making it more difficult for malicious entities to obtain the sensitive information or to access device functionality once the sensitive information has been disclosed. In various embodiments, this may prevent or reduce unauthorized access to the device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes hardware circuitry and/or supports instructions which may be used to detect that a return address or jump address has been modified since it was written to memory. In response to detecting the modification, the processor may be configured to signal an exception or otherwise initiate error handling to prevent execution at the modified address. In an embodiment, the processor may perform a cryptographic sign operation on the return address/jump address before writing the signed return address/jump address to memory and the signature may be verified before the address is used as a return target or jump target. Security of the system may be improved by foiling ROP/JOP attacks.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for changing a required authentication type based on a request for a particular type of information. For example, consider a situation where a user has asked a virtual assistant “who owns this device?” By default, the device may allow biometric authentication to unlock. In response to identification of the owner by the virtual assistant, however, the device may require one or more other types of authentication (e.g., manual entry of a passcode) to unlock the device. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may increase the security of the device by making it more difficult for malicious entities to obtain the sensitive information or to access device functionality once the sensitive information has been disclosed. In various embodiments, this may prevent or reduce unauthorized access to the device.

Abstract: A method of restoring confidential information items of a first device to a second device by using a set of servers. The method generates a public and private key pair and ties the private key to the hash of executable code of the servers at the time of generating the public and private keys. The method receives the encrypted confidential information items in a secure object which is encrypted with a user-specific key and the public key. The method only provides the confidential information to the second device when the second device provides the same user-specific key as the key that encrypts the secure object and the hash of the executable code of the servers at the time of accessing the private key to decrypt the secure object matches the hash of the executable code running on the servers at the time of generating the private key.