Changes

For those that are unfamiliar: the CPU, GPU & DSP all exist on one proprietary SOC design used on the 3DS. Secure information is stored there partly, most likely burned onto the SoC during manufacturing and not readable by any other normal means or from outside of the SoC, in such a way that the secure information there, always stays there. In good design it will never reach the main memory of the 3DS and so sensitive data (like encryption keys or algorithms) stay secure.

For those that are unfamiliar: the CPU, GPU & DSP all exist on one proprietary SOC design used on the 3DS. Secure information is stored there partly, most likely burned onto the SoC during manufacturing and not readable by any other normal means or from outside of the SoC, in such a way that the secure information there, always stays there. In good design it will never reach the main memory of the 3DS and so sensitive data (like encryption keys or algorithms) stay secure.

Extracting data from a proprietary chip to reverse-engineer it is typically done by decapping it, which is risky business and involves removing the epoxy, delayering the chip and taking high-resolution pictures of every layer to reconstruct logic from the images. Special equipment is used ( SEM / scanning electron microscope ) and it is rarely done outside of a professional context because it is very costly to an average enthusiast ('hacker') and access to equipment and the expertise is hard to realize.

Extracting data from a proprietary chip to reverse-engineer it is typically done by decapping it, which is risky business and involves removing the epoxy, delayering the chip and taking high-resolution pictures of every layer to reconstruct logic from the images. Special equipment is used ( SEM / scanning electron microscope ) and it is rarely done outside of a professional context because it is very costly to an average enthusiast ("hacker") and access to equipment and the expertise is hard to realize.

Chip decapping has been used by the "emulation" community to reverse-engineer and recover data from special proprietary chips, such as those in SNES cartridges. It has also been used to to reverse-engineer other hardware to create emulators for other platforms besides the SNES.

Chip decapping has been used by the "emulation" community to reverse-engineer and recover data from special proprietary chips, such as those in SNES cartridges. It has also been used to to reverse-engineer other hardware to create emulators for other platforms besides the SNES.

= How much? =

= How much? =

To reiterate, what we're trying to do is: send in initially 1 3DS to a professional lab to get delayered and imaged (covering the costs of doing so). The resulting SEM images will be reconstructed and used towards discovering more of the hardware secrets inside the 3DS.

To reiterate, what we're trying to do is: send in initially 1 3DS to a professional lab to get delayered and imaged (covering the costs of doing so). The resulting SEM images will be reconstructed and used towards discovering more of the hardware secrets inside the 3DS.

We're considering giving contributors a copy of the images produced as thanks.

We're also considering giving contributors a copy of the images produced as thanks.

 

It is not possible to give a clear answer on this until the 3DS SoC chip has been decapped. But consider the success story about the SNES decapping [http://byuu.org/articles/emulation/decap here]. We have a team of proven experts, anxious to have a very thorough look inside the SoC of the 3DS. If there is something Nintendo wanted to hide, you can be sure it will be discovered.

= How can I help? =

= How can I help? =