Post
Topic
Board Hardware wallets
Re: Secure Element in Hardware Wallets
by
JL0
on 27/05/2022, 18:23:08 UTC
Secure element information updated for ColdCard Mk4 hardware wallet, that now have two secure elements SE1 Microchip ATECC608B and SE2 Maxim DS28C36B, along with STM32 main microcontroller.
They are using something called Pairing Secret, that means that secret is shared between three components, two secure elements and microprocessor.
If one of those chips get's compromised, wallet with secret will be safe, and they use trick PIN's for improving security of their devices.

ColdCard developers explained better in more details how Dual Secure Elements work on their github page:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Coldcard/firmware/master/docs/mk4-secure-elements.md

More information about second secure element they use - DeepCover Secure Authenticator Maxim DS28C36:
https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/embedded-security/secure-authenticators/DS28C36.html
Are there other wallets that use such a procedure?

I think it's very good what ColdCard does. So you don't have to fully trust the SE.