# Hardware Security with Matt Brown

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2025-07-17
- Length: 1h 07m
- Episode: 698
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/698-hardware-security-with-matt-brown/

## Summary

Matt Brown of Brown Find Security discusses hardware security best practices and reverse engineering techniques, using his analysis of a smart charcoal smoker as a primary case study. He explains how unencrypted flash storage and lack of key rotation on an ESP32-based device allowed him to extract private keys and intercept TLS traffic. The conversation covers the importance of threat modeling, the role of secure elements like the ATECC608, and the tools used for firmware dumping and RF analysis.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=0) Introduction and IoT Smoker Analysis
- [10:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=611) Threat Modeling and Key Storage
- [19:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=1187) Encryption and Secure Elements
- [30:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=1805) Firmware Dumping and Reverse Engineering
- [45:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=2742) Bluetooth Low Energy and Side Channels
- [53:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=3239) Hardware Tools and RF Analysis
- [1:02:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown#t=3769) Conferences and Community

## Topics

- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- ESP32 (chip)
- ATECC608 (chip)
- Wireshark (tool)
- Ghidra (tool)
- IDA Pro (tool)
- XGecu T76 (tool)
- Pico EMP (tool)
- Saleae Logic Analyzer (tool)
- USRP B200 (tool)
- GNU Radio (tool)
- Universal Radio Hacker (tool)
- NRF Connect (tool)
- Binwalk (tool)
- Home Depot (company)
- AWS (company)
- Samsung (company)
- Bosch (company)
- DEF CON (other)
- Hardware IO (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [042 - Diwali in the Morning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-11-24-042-diwali-in-the-morning) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [058 - Technically Met the Specs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-06-15-058-technically-met-the-specs) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [071 - Snerd Niped](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-09-07-071-snerd-niped) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [047 - The Sun, The Moon, The Stars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-05-16-047-the-sun-the-moon-the-stars) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [065 - Multitalented Grinch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2023-07-30-065-multitalented-grinch) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-17-hardware-security-with-matt-brown. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.