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3 Hardware Trojans in Electronic Devices
3.3.6.3 Sectra Tiger Device
In April 2000, Sectra Communications, a Swedish company, launched production
of its digital mobile phone Tiger.
Sectra Tiger phones using encryption technology with keys of 56 to 256 bits
ensure secure communication via public GSM networks.
Sectra offers both centralized and distributed key management systems using
either SmartKey smart cards produced by the company or the infrared connection
function KeyBeam implemented in Tiger models. Keys can be generated in the phone
itself and sent to a narrow circle of users. In the following years, Sectra designed
versions of its phones for other standards of wireless communication—in particular,
for CDMA standard used in the USA.
Strict state regulations in the field of import and export of encryption technologies,
according to representatives of the company, significantly limit the possibilities of
sale of such mobile phones. In addition to permission from the government, the
buyers also need quite a lot of money. “Civilian” versions of Tiger mobile phones
cost about 5 thousand dollars at that time; discounts were only provided to those
users who purchased batches of several hundred devices.
The device had the dimensions of a modern mobile phone and weighed 197 g; its
difference from traditional devices consisted in the unusual position of the antenna,
which was installed in the lower section. The mobile phone also had a slot for
installing smart cards from which the encryption key was read.
3 Hardware Trojans in Electronic Devices
3.3.6.3 Sectra Tiger Device
In April 2000, Sectra Communications, a Swedish company, launched production
of its digital mobile phone Tiger.
Sectra Tiger phones using encryption technology with keys of 56 to 256 bits
ensure secure communication via public GSM networks.
Sectra offers both centralized and distributed key management systems using
either SmartKey smart cards produced by the company or the infrared connection
function KeyBeam implemented in Tiger models. Keys can be generated in the phone
itself and sent to a narrow circle of users. In the following years, Sectra designed
versions of its phones for other standards of wireless communication—in particular,
for CDMA standard used in the USA.
Strict state regulations in the field of import and export of encryption technologies,
according to representatives of the company, significantly limit the possibilities of
sale of such mobile phones. In addition to permission from the government, the
buyers also need quite a lot of money. “Civilian” versions of Tiger mobile phones
cost about 5 thousand dollars at that time; discounts were only provided to those
users who purchased batches of several hundred devices.
The device had the dimensions of a modern mobile phone and weighed 197 g; its
difference from traditional devices consisted in the unusual position of the antenna,
which was installed in the lower section. The mobile phone also had a slot for
installing smart cards from which the encryption key was read.