We're (The Government) Here to Help
Joey Maresca explores we're (the government) here to help at DEF CON 19, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.
Summary
Architecture and Background
Joey Maresca - We're (The Government) Here To Help: A Look At How FIPS 140 Helps (And Hurts) Security Many standards, especially those provided by the government, are often viewed as more trouble the actual help. The goal of this talk is to shed a new light onto onesuch standard (FIPS 140) and show what it is inteded for and how is can sometimes help ensure good design practices for security products.
Vulnerability Analysis
But everything is not roses and there are certain things that these standards cannot help with or may even inhibit. By examining these strengths and potential weakness, the hope is everyone will have a new opinion of this and similar standards and how they are used.
Exploitation and Demonstrations
Joey Maresca is a security analyst/engineer with a background in computer hardware and software, including a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University. In a past life, he worked at the US Patent Office, while not the most exciting job it was an informative experience.
Remediation and Defensive Strategies
Over the past five years he has worked in the security field with a primary focus on FIPS 140 testing and validations. This has allowed him inside access to dozens of commercial products. Twitter: @l0stkn0wledge
Related talks
Main Stage·43 min
Yaniv Balmas · Lior Oppenheim
Yaniv Balmas and Lior Oppenheim demonstrate reverse engineering KVM switch firmware, subverting the 8051 microcontroller to install an undetectable, persistent hardware keylogger.
Main Stage·47 min
Michael Ossmann
Michael Ossmann explores the nsa playset: rf retroreflectors at DEF CON 22, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.
Main Stage·47 min
Pierce · Loki
Pierce and Loki explores nsa playset: gsm sniffing at DEF CON 22, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.


