Robust hardware true random number generators using DRAM remanence effects
Fatemeh Tehranipoor, Wei Qi Yan, John A. Chandy · 2016
A True Random Number Generator (TRNG) is an important security primitive used in a variety of applications including cryptographic algorithms, communication systems, simulations, etc. It is critical to be able to produce outputs consisting of fully unpredictable and unbiased bits in a cost-effective manner. In this paper, we present a robust hardware TRNG based on the Dynamic RAM (DRAM) remanence effect, which is a condition whereby information remains in a DRAM even after powering it down. The advantage of our hardware TRNG is that it forms from existing components with no extra circuitry. We assessed and tested the randomness of our proposed hardware TRNG by applying the NIST Statistical Test which indicates the unpredictability and nonrepeatability of our data. Given its strong NIST results, we believe that there is a potential for immediate cryptographic applications.