From 02b7753161aeb41d9df82229bb2f9f315c8b8c32 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: jaseg Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:55:50 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] conclusion: explicitly refer to research questions --- chapter-conclusion/chapter.tex | 24 +++++++++++++----------- chapter-introduction/chapter.tex | 1 + 2 files changed, 14 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-) diff --git a/chapter-conclusion/chapter.tex b/chapter-conclusion/chapter.tex index 7ac5b15..6ce538b 100644 --- a/chapter-conclusion/chapter.tex +++ b/chapter-conclusion/chapter.tex @@ -2,17 +2,19 @@ In this thesis, we propose Inertial Hardware Security Modules (IHSMs), a new approach to physical security that combines conventional tamper-sensing meshes with physical movement to bootstrap a highly secure system from low-security, -off-the-shelf parts. To motivate our research, we show on the German national digital health record system how hardware -security is hard to achieve in practice. Besides some minor cryptographic oddities, our analysis reveals at least one -essential specification mistake that negates the hardware security of the system by unnecessarily introducing a poorly -protected HSM. We provide a deep analyses of two key engineering challenges in IHSM construction, mesh monitoring and -power transfer. We propose a low-cost TDR-based mesh monitoring system that exceeds the capabilities of previous systems -from academic or from patent literature. Our system is capable of monitoring large meshes while simultaneously providing -detailed results. Our TDR-based mesh monitoring system is of independent interest, since it can also be integrated into -traditional HSM designs. We additionally propose a new, generalized design for high-frequency PCB inductors with low -parasitic capacitance. Our design provides better bandwidth and lower parasitic capacitance compared to the state of the -art without increasing implementation cost. We conclude this thesis with two chapters elaborating on two new use cases -that are made possible by IHSM technology due to its ability to protect large payloads that have high power consumption. +off-the-shelf parts, solving our first research question introduced in Chapter~\ref{chapter-intro}. To motivate our +research, we show on the German national digital health record system how hardware security is hard to achieve in +practice. Besides some minor cryptographic oddities, our analysis reveals at least one essential specification mistake +that negates the hardware security of the system by unnecessarily introducing a poorly protected HSM. We provide a deep +analyses of two key engineering challenges in IHSM construction, mesh monitoring and power transfer. Solving our second +research question, we propose a low-cost TDR-based mesh monitoring system that exceeds the capabilities of previous +systems from academic or from patent literature. Our system is capable of monitoring large meshes while simultaneously +providing detailed results. Our TDR-based mesh monitoring system is of independent interest, since it can also be +integrated into traditional HSM designs. We additionally propose a new, generalized design for high-frequency PCB +inductors with low parasitic capacitance. Our design provides better bandwidth and lower parasitic capacitance compared +to the state of the art without increasing implementation cost. We conclude this thesis with two chapters elaborating on +two new use cases that are made possible by IHSM technology due to its ability to protect large payloads that have high +power consumption. Together, these results answer our third and final research question. \section{Outlook} diff --git a/chapter-introduction/chapter.tex b/chapter-introduction/chapter.tex index 79da145..3585af9 100644 --- a/chapter-introduction/chapter.tex +++ b/chapter-introduction/chapter.tex @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ } \chaptertitle{Introduction} +\label{chapter-intro} All Cops Are Bastards, or ACAB is a slogan popular in far left and anarchist circles since the mid-twentieth century that expresses a rejection of state authority~\cite{constantinouAppliedResearchPolicing2021}. While politically, this