Sensci will research development approaches and designs for a software protection system that relies on the characteristics of idiosyncratic computer signatures. Three candidate signatures types will be evaluated in detail during Phase I including remnant electromagnetic noise characteristics, block maps of magnetic media, and acoustic ?fingerprints?. The feasibility, strengths and weaknesses of each signature method will be examined, including additional hardware and software requirements of the software protection system design. It is anticipated that an software protection system based on idiosyncratic physical signatures will greatly benefit the government's ability to prevent security breaches of critical system software, especially in environments where other technologies lack robustness, or which fall short of security needs
