Basic Computer Security Concepts

Abstract

This chapter covers basics of computer security needed for understanding secure processor architecture designs. It begins with a discussion of the trusted computing base, security threats to a system, and discussion of threat models. A brief overview of information leaks and side channels is also included in the chapter as it will be needed to understand the side-channel attack protections that secure processor architectures needs. This chapter then dives into security concepts of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It also explains basics of symmetric-key cryptography, public-key cryptography, and secure hashes. A short section on importance of good sources of randomness is included. The chapter closes with a short overview of physically unclonable functions (PUFs) and their applications.