Researchers at Seoul National University have developed the world’s first Concealable Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) using commercially available 3D V-NAND flash memory. This new hardware security method preserves the unclonability and randomness of conventional PUFs while adding a key advantage: the ability to conceal the encryption key under user data and reveal it only when needed. By leveraging a controlled GIDL erase mechanism, the PUF works without any changes to the memory’s circuitry or structure, enabling secure key generation and storage directly on mass-produced memory chips. Tested for stability and resistance to machine learning attacks, this practical approach could strengthen security in smartphones, cars, and IoT devices, marking a major step for data protection in the AI and big data era.
