John Payson wrote:
> 
> |Which brings me back ON topic: Is there any evidence that OTPs are
> |vulnerable to attack?  I know there were some infamous problems with
> |early OTPs and selective EPROM erasure attacks.  But the fact is
> |that many of us have ruined more recent /JW parts by programming
> |the code protects.  I suspect MicroChip buried the code protect bits
> |on the newer dies, or that they aren't EPROM.  I'm guessing you'd
> |need a Voltage Contrast electron microscope or other exotics to
> |defeat this.  Any comments?
> 
> All Microchip would have to do to make lots of people on this list
> very happy would be to release, and adhere to a spec something like
> the following:
> 
> **NOTE** NOT A REAL MICROCHIP SPEC **
>   "On all PICmicro devices produced after 5/15/99, with the exception of
>    those windowed parts featuring an unerasable code-protect fuse, the LSB
>    of the memory cell following the last documented customer-ID address
>    will be "zero".  On windowed parts with an unerasable code-protect fuse,
>    that bit will be "one".  On windowed parts with an erasable code-protect
>    fuse, the bit will be initially "zero", but UV exposure may subsequently
>    change it to a "one".
> **NOTE** NOT A REAL MICROCHIP SPEC **

Hey! This is a swell idea! Dreaming up Mchip literature to 
vent some frustration. Here's another one :

**********************************************
**NOTE** NOT A REAL MICROCHIP PRESS RELEASE **
**********************************************

          MCHIP SET TO SLASH PRICES WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

CHANDLER, Ariz., April 12, 1999 ÷ Mchip Technology Inc. today announced
that all PIC micro prices are set to be cut with up to 50% on some devices.
The price reductions are with immediate effect and will make thousands of 
loyal PIC micro users world wide very happy. "We couldn't go on making our 
loyal customers pay double for less functionality than what our competitors 
offer" said Mr JB Goode, chief president in charge of many other chief persons. 
"We have been consistently making more and more money each year, with 
record profits each quarter. We felt that it was high time we reward our 
users with the prices they deserve. Truth is, we really can afford it!" said 
Mr B Counter, chief president, bean counting.

ADD ONE ÷ NEW PRICES MAKE PICMICROs COMPETITIVE AGAIN

Users of PICMicro can now rest assured that they can continue designing 
new projects with confidence, knowing that their products will compete 
against those of competitors using other micros.

ADD TWO ÷ DESIGNERS DON'T HAVE TO BEG FOR FUNDS FOR NEW DEV TOOLS

By this dramatic and bold move, Mchip ensured that designers won't 
have to feel like idiots for asking for new development tools.

**********************************************
**NOTE** NOT A REAL MICROCHIP PRESS RELEASE ** <sigh>
**********************************************

I guess I really stepped into it now!

-- 
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