Hardware Security and Sidechannel Analysis

Hardware Security and Side-Channel Analysis focuses on protecting the physical components that underpin modern computing systems. From processors and embedded devices to specialized chips used in critical infrastructure and consumer electronics, hardware plays a foundational role in system security. Vulnerabilities at the hardware level can compromise entire systems, making it essential to design and evaluate hardware with security in mind.

Research in this area examines how attackers may exploit hardware characteristics—such as timing, power consumption, or electromagnetic signals—to extract sensitive information or bypass security protections. Faculty and students study topics including secure hardware design, microarchitectural vulnerabilities, side-channel attacks and defenses, and the security of embedded and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. By identifying weaknesses and developing new protections, researchers help build more secure computing systems from the hardware up.