Protect the firmware on the beacon

[pltv]

Hello

I want to understand how far the firmware that is burnt on to a Hardware is protected. Is it possible to actually read the firmware from a device (if the device has GVDC Pins) and re engineer the HEX file from it? What are the typical safeguards that one should employ?

[Wojtek]

Which chip are you asking about?

[pltv]

nRF51822 QFAC

[Wojtek]

There is RBPCONF register, you can read about it in reference manual. HOWEVER it does not give you 100% security, as there already is method of dumping firmware protected by that register. But i think this is the only firmware security feature that is implemented in nrf51

[Sigurd]

After you have successfully programmed your device, you can enable readback protection with the RBPCONF register. You will then have no access to the flash or RAM from the outside. When unlocking the device, the RAM and FLASH will be erased.

See chapter 8 in the reference manual.

[pltv]

Thanks. But comment from @Wojtek says that it is still possible to dump firmare protect by that register and reverse engineer. Whats the final word on this?