Tamperproofing

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Tamperproofing is a methodology used to hinder, deter or detect unauthorised access to a device or circumvention of a security system. Since any device or system can be foiled by a person with sufficient knowledge, equipment, and time, the term "tamperproof" is a misnomer unless some limitations on the tampering party's resources is explicit or assumed.

Tamper resistance is resistance to intentional malfunction or sabotage by either the normal users of a product, package, or system or others with physical access to it.

Tamper resistance ranges from simple features like screws with special drives and tamper-evident seals to more complex devices that render themselves inoperable or encrypt all data transmissions between individual chips, use of materials needing special tools and knowledge. Tamper-resistant devices or features are common on packages to deter package or product tampering or enable its detection.

Anti-tamper devices have one or more components: tamper resistance, tamper detection, tamper response, and tamper evidence.^[1] In some applications, devices are only tamper-evident rather than tamper-resistant.