I.e since every part is implementable in a (Turing full) CPU then how does it matter whether or not a Safe Factor has assist for Bitcoin’s cryptographic primitives – aside from making signing and decryption sooner.
Firstly I believe that is barely a false impression, it is very important be capable of do ECC operations effectively which is why a theoretical Safe Factor (SE) with these capabilities would should be environment friendly. Nonetheless the purpose of them is to not compete with the effectivity of say a desktop processor, the purpose is to have a verifiably right and discrete processor that’s environment friendly sufficient do do the operations on a small machine.
Would a tool with a generic CPU the place the software program cannot be modified (with out dropping the secrets and techniques as nicely) with safety in opposition to bodily assaults already be “the dream {hardware} pockets” which does not assist key export it doesn’t matter what?
I’m not positive that good playing cards match this description completely, they retailer data and require bodily interplay to launch secrets and techniques however should not made for generic CPU processing if that’s what you’re suggesting.
I need to make clear I’m definitely not an professional on this subject however from what I’ve researched the rationale a sensible card (SC) will not be safer than a SE is since you are inable to safe personal key operations on the SC, you possibly can solely use it to retailer the personal information. The SE having the potential for secp256k1 (which apparently none do atm) would assist you to do signing utterly airgapped out of your probably susceptible or already exploited private pc system or native pc community. That being mentioned there are non-secp256k1 associated personal operations that may be performed on the SE, which within the case of an SC would should be carried out in your private pc system which is an elevated assault floor.
Ledger for example claims that they use the SE to generate personal keys:
Safe Factor Chip Protects Your Ledger From Assaults
A Safe Factor is a extremely superior chip that mitigates a number of various kinds of assaults. This cutting-edge chip, which is utilized in high-level safety options, actually units Ledger aside as a top-end safety resolution for crypto property. All of our units use a Safe Factor, which drastically enhances their safety. Ledger makes use of them to generate and retailer personal keys in your crypto property.
I don’t advocate utilizing ledger in mild of their current press releases nevertheless that is an instance of how a SE could be used.
Blockstream Jade adopts a distinct safety mannequin not based mostly on SE which you will discover to be related:
As an alternative of a safe aspect, Blockstream Jade makes use of a novel safety mannequin that enables it to stay totally open-source whereas additionally being shielded from bodily assaults and attaining related (if not higher) safety from this potential risk – by appearing as a “digital” safe aspect.
The blind oracle mannequin that Jade makes use of is totally open supply, and is really blind. It is aware of nothing about Jade pockets information, and does not even know the person’s precise PIN. Customers might use Blockstream’s blind oracle to guard their pockets, or they might run their very own.
From what I can surmise, an SE could be helpful for sure personal operations similar to producing a key nevertheless it doesn’t shut the assault floor utterly. An SC as a result of it can’t do any personal operations is a extra open assault floor as a result of it delegates personal operations to any pc system you plug it into. An open supply blind oracle mannequin could also be an efficient solution to lower the assault floor when utilizing a SC or {hardware} with an identical safety mannequin similar to I consider Jade may fall into. Nonetheless since all SEs thus far are closed supply it might not be a viable choice for SE based mostly wallets to implement blind oracles to guard personal key operations but.
