Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections

N. Moeskops; A. Aljuffri; S. Hamdioui; M. Taouil

doi:10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057

Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections

N. Moeskops, A. Aljuffri, S. Hamdioui, M. Taouil

Computer Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a novel passive physical anti-tampering Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on glitters that can protect an entire Integrated Circuit (IC) and/or Printable Circuit Board (PCB). A prototype of the proposed glitter based PUF has been developed. The glitters are dropped randomly in a resin layer during its formation and their positioning is used as the basis of a PUF. The PUF response is created by taking a picture inside the coating layer. To get a stable response resilient against noise and different temperature cycles, the picture is processed using filtering, image processing, and error correction. Using actual drill measurements, our findings indicate that even drilling with a 0.1mm diameter drill can be detected and lead to a wrong PUF response.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC)
Editors	L. O’Conner
Place of Publication	Piscataway
Publisher	IEEE
Pages	430-433
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	979-8-3315-7041-5
ISBN (Print)	979-8-3315-7042-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057
Publication status	Published - 2025
Event	2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC) - San Diego, United States Duration: 20 Sept 2025 → 26 Sept 2025

Conference

Conference	2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC)
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	20/09/25 → 26/09/25

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

Glitter PUF
anti-tampering
passive PUF

Access to Document

10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057

Embargoed Document

Glitter_PUF_A_Passive_Anti-Tamper_PUF_Based_On_Images_Of_Glitter_Reflections
Final published version, 2.43 MB
Embargo ends: 3/05/26

Cite this

@inproceedings{85b7fd1c4e26464ea2049bf414e18491,

title = "Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections",

abstract = "In this paper, we introduce a novel passive physical anti-tampering Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on glitters that can protect an entire Integrated Circuit (IC) and/or Printable Circuit Board (PCB). A prototype of the proposed glitter based PUF has been developed. The glitters are dropped randomly in a resin layer during its formation and their positioning is used as the basis of a PUF. The PUF response is created by taking a picture inside the coating layer. To get a stable response resilient against noise and different temperature cycles, the picture is processed using filtering, image processing, and error correction. Using actual drill measurements, our findings indicate that even drilling with a 0.1mm diameter drill can be detected and lead to a wrong PUF response.",

keywords = "Glitter PUF, anti-tampering, passive PUF",

author = "N. Moeskops and A. Aljuffri and S. Hamdioui and M. Taouil",

note = "Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.; 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC) ; Conference date: 20-09-2025 Through 26-09-2025",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-8-3315-7042-2",

pages = "430--433",

editor = "L. O{\textquoteright}Conner",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC)",

publisher = "IEEE",

address = "United States",

}

Moeskops, N, Aljuffri, A , Hamdioui, S & Taouil, M 2025, Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections. in L O’Conner (ed.), Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC). IEEE, Piscataway, pp. 430-433, 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC), San Diego, United States, 20/09/25. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057

Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections. / Moeskops, N.; Aljuffri, A.; Hamdioui, S. et al.
Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC). ed. / L. O’Conner. Piscataway: IEEE, 2025. p. 430-433.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

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T1 - Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections

AU - Moeskops, N.

AU - Aljuffri, A.

AU - Hamdioui, S.

AU - Taouil, M.

N1 - Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - In this paper, we introduce a novel passive physical anti-tampering Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on glitters that can protect an entire Integrated Circuit (IC) and/or Printable Circuit Board (PCB). A prototype of the proposed glitter based PUF has been developed. The glitters are dropped randomly in a resin layer during its formation and their positioning is used as the basis of a PUF. The PUF response is created by taking a picture inside the coating layer. To get a stable response resilient against noise and different temperature cycles, the picture is processed using filtering, image processing, and error correction. Using actual drill measurements, our findings indicate that even drilling with a 0.1mm diameter drill can be detected and lead to a wrong PUF response.

AB - In this paper, we introduce a novel passive physical anti-tampering Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on glitters that can protect an entire Integrated Circuit (IC) and/or Printable Circuit Board (PCB). A prototype of the proposed glitter based PUF has been developed. The glitters are dropped randomly in a resin layer during its formation and their positioning is used as the basis of a PUF. The PUF response is created by taking a picture inside the coating layer. To get a stable response resilient against noise and different temperature cycles, the picture is processed using filtering, image processing, and error correction. Using actual drill measurements, our findings indicate that even drilling with a 0.1mm diameter drill can be detected and lead to a wrong PUF response.

KW - Glitter PUF

KW - anti-tampering

KW - passive PUF

U2 - 10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057

DO - 10.1109/ITC58126.2025.00057

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 979-8-3315-7042-2

SP - 430

EP - 433

BT - Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC)

A2 - O’Conner, L.

PB - IEEE

CY - Piscataway

T2 - 2025 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC)

Y2 - 20 September 2025 through 26 September 2025

ER -

Glitter PUF: A Passive Anti-Tamper PUF Based On Images Of Glitter Reflections

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this