# 022 - Bits Through the Microscope

- Show: [Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast)
- Published: 2019-06-30
- Length: 24m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope
- Listen: https://unnamedre.com/episode/22

## Summary

Chris Gerlinksy, a reverse engineering consultant from PDR North, explains how he extracts ROM data from microcontrollers by deprocessing chips and imaging them under a microscope. He details the evolution of security in PayTV smart cards, from simple 8-bit chips to modern devices with anti-tamper shields and implant ROMs that require specialized etching to reveal data. Gerlinksy also discusses the tools of the trade, including wet etching, CMP polishing, and micro-probing stations, as well as software for automating bit extraction from optical images.

## Chapters

- [0:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=28) Introduction and Background
- [2:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=137) PayTV Security and Smart Card Cracking
- [5:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=341) Chip Deprocessing Techniques
- [9:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=553) Optical ROM Extraction and Implant ROM
- [12:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=764) Micro-probing and Focused Ion Beam
- [16:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=1009) Handling Encrypted ROM and Software Tools
- [20:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope#t=1206) Resources and Consulting

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- PDR North (company)
- SiliconPr0n (other)
- IDA Pro (tool)
- Ghidra (tool)
- Nintendo 64 CIC (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Dmitry Nedospasov](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-06-17-an-interview-with-dmitry-nedospasov) (The Amp Hour)
- [#397.8 - An Interview with Chris Gerlinsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-8-an-interview-with-chris-gerlinsky) (The Amp Hour)
- [352: Baby's First Hydrofluoric Acid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-20-352-babys-first-hydrofluoric-acid) (Embedded.fm)
- [Another LPC55 ROM Vulnerability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-04-05-another-lpc55-rom-vulnerability) (Oxide and Friends)
- [111: Potty Train Your Tamagotchi (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-06-30-022-bits-through-the-microscope. 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 Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast.