Hardware Security
What is the danger of counterfeit chips (such as remarked parts) in the semiconductor supply chain?
- AUsed, defective or lower-grade chips relabeled as something else enter the supply, causing equipment failures, safety problems or malicious circuitry
- BCounterfeit chips are always higher-performing than genuine ones
- CCounterfeit chips turn genuine automatically if bought from a proper dealer
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Used, defective or lower-grade chips relabeled as something else enter the supply, causing equipment failures, safety problems or malicious circuitry
Counterfeits include used parts pulled from scrapped equipment, sanded and remarked to look new, lower-grade parts (for example in temperature range) marked as higher grades, and entirely different chips. They may work at first but fail early or malfunction in harsh conditions, which is especially dangerous in aviation, automotive and medical uses. Prevention includes buying from authorized distributors, incoming inspection and chip authentication mechanisms.
- A. Correct. Buying through authorized channels is the basic countermeasure.
- B. They are almost always inferior in performance or reliability.
- C. They never turn genuine.