1.1.1 Secure Boot

The ATECC608B provides a mechanism to support secure boot operations in a connected MCU/MPU (microprocessor). This can help to identify situations in which fraudulent code has been installed on the host. On power-up, the boot code within the host MCU sends the code digest and/or signature to the ATECC608B. If the signature validates the digest using the public key stored in the ATECC608B or the digest is compared to the stored digest, a message is returned to the MCU host. It also enables a reduction in the execution time of the boot process with its different methods and thus provides the secure boot speed optimization. To mitigate the Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack, the ATECC608B returns the optional Message Authentication Code (MAC) value to the MCU host, where the MCU host verifies the returned MAC.