Exploding Chips

[Gary Stoneburner <stoneburner@nist.gov>]

re:
http://www.infowar.com/p_and_s/02/p_n_s_011802a_j.shtml

"A new way of making silicon explode could mean anyone trying to use
a stolen laptop or mobile will be confronted by this message: "This
machine is stolen and will self-destruct in ten seconds ...
"."

"You would only need a tiny quantity of the chemical to do
irreparable damage to delicate transistors, so it would be cheap and easy
to add when the chips are being made."

"In a stolen mobile phone, the network would send a trigger signal
to the part of the chip containing the gadolinium nitrate
"detonator", triggering the explosion. "We have shown that
you can store this stuff and detonate it at will," says
Sailor."

GRS - Imagine the possibilities!!  I hack the system controller and
gain the ability to LITERALLY destroy your machine!

Wow,
Gary

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* Opinions expressed are not intended to reflect an official position
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* Gary Stoneburner         
*(been mobilized - Major, US Army Land Information Warfare Activity (LIWA))
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