Tag Archive for: Titan

What is the Titan M2 security chip in Google’s Pixel phones?

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Google IO 2022 titan m2 in the pixel 6a

With the Pixel 6 series, Google began developing its in-house Tensor SoC. But that wasn’t the first time the search giant used a piece of custom silicon in its smartphones – the Pixel 2’s Pixel Visual Core was technically the first. One generation later, the company announced that Pixel 3 devices would include a hardware security module dubbed Titan M. Then, in 2021, Google followed it up with the Titan M2. The security chip has since become a selling point for Google phones like the Pixel 8 series.

So in this article, let’s take a closer look at the role of the Titan M2 in Pixel devices, how it works, and why it’s even necessary in the first place.

What is the Titan M2 chip all about?

Picture showing Google's Titan and Titan M security chip

Google’s Titan server chip (left) and first-generation Titan M security chip (right)

The Titan M2 is a dedicated security chip included in Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series smartphones. You’ll also find it in some other Google products like the Pixel Tablet. Google designed the Titan M2 in-house so that it could exercise complete control over its feature set. The chip is based on the RISC-V CPU architecture and contains its own memory, RAM, and cryptographic accelerator.

The Titan M2 is one of the many measures Google has employed to improve smartphone security over the years. The company uses the chip in its Pixel phones to provide an additional layer of protection on top of Android’s default security measures.

Google designed the Titan M2 chip to augment Android’s default security measures.

Take Android’s mandatory full-disk encryption. On most devices, it relies on a security feature known as a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which is essentially the secure area of a processor. Android devices store their encryption keys within this secure area, which is in turn guarded with your pattern, PIN, or passcode. In other words, the TEE isolates cryptographic keys and never reveals them to the user or even the operating system.

Virtually all smartphone SoCs in this day and age have a TEE or similar secure environment. On Snapdragon chips, it’s commonly referred to as the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment (QSEE). Apple’s Arm-based chips like the M1 have the Secure Enclave. With these…

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BlueHalo Secures DOD Contract for Titan Unmanned Aerial Systems; CEO Jonathan Moneymaker Quoted

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A division of defense and aerospace contractor BlueHalo has secured a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for a delivery of the company’s unmanned aerial systems.

As a result of the $24 million contract, BlueHalo Titan Defense will provide its Titan Counter-Unmanned Aerial System product, which is designed using artificial intelligence, machine learning and radio frequency, the Arlington, Virginia-based company said Tuesday.

Jonathan Moneymaker, CEO of BlueHalo and a 2022 Wash100 Award, explained that Titan works by utilizing the aforementioned technologies to hone in on threats and maintain thresholds of safety for warfighters.

Moneymaker cited Titan as a “force multiplier” for military personnel and said it is intended to prevent casualties on the battlefield and will help the DOD meet objectives.

The award also comes on the heels of the DOD’s recognition of the Titan platform as a Program of Record technology, after more than five years of proven effectiveness in combat and domestic usages.

Titan’s products will be employed for pre-deployment processes, mobile security, fixed site protection and dismounted operations by a confidential government agency through the new DOD contract. The line of autonomous systems have been contracted in the past by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, U.S. Special Operations Forces and various federal departments.

In May, BlueHalo filled a $4 million order for Titan C-AUS kits from the Army.

Google Opts for NFC in Titan Security Key Update

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In a recent post on its Security Blog, Google announced that it’s making some changes to its Titan security key lineup that will see it ditch Bluetooth in favor of NFC wireless technology.

Google Opts for NFC in Titan Security Key Update

The changes will give consumers two nearly identical key options going forward, with the only difference between them being the type of connector on board: one will be USB-A while the other will support USB-C.

This is a departure from the old lineup which also featured both USB-A and USB-C keys, however the USB-C model didn’t support NFC, opting for Bluetooth connectivity instead.

“Since NFC functionality is now supported by a wide range of Android phones and iPhones, we are discontinuing the Bluetooth Titan Security Key and focusing on the easier and more widely available NFC capability,” writes Christiaan Brand, a Product Manager at Google Cloud and the blog post’s author.

Google’s Titan security keys are used as an additional layer of protection for a user’s Google account, keeping it locked even if their username and password were obtained by a hacker. The keys also work with third party apps that support FIDO standards and can prevent phishing attacks by refusing to authenticate a login to a fake website that may be used to steal a user’s credentials.

This is the latest in a recent series of security-focused announcements by the tech giant, and comes at a time when cybercrime has seen dramatic growth due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though Google’s previous USB-C Titan key was made in collaboration with Yubico, it is unclear whether this latest batch is also a result of that partnership.

Already available through the Google Store, the USB-A key is priced at $30, while the USB-C model is $35.

Sources: The Verge, Engadget

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Google’s new Titan security key lineup won’t make you choose between USB-C and NFC

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Google announced updates to its Titan security key lineup on Monday, simplifying it by removing a product and bringing NFC to all its keys. The company will now offer two options: one has a USB-A connector, one has USB-C, and both have NFC for connecting to “most mobile devices.” The USB-A key will cost $30, and the USB-C key will cost $35 when they go on sale on August 10th.

One of the biggest changes in Google’s new lineup is an updated USB-C key, which has added NFC support. Google’s previous USB-C option, made in collaboration with Yubico, didn’t support the wireless standard. Now, the choice between USB-C and A is easy, as there aren’t features that one has that the other doesn’t. It’s simply a matter of what ports your computer has. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Yubico was involved with the new key.

According to Google’s support document, its Titan security keys can be used to protect your Google account as well as with third-party apps and services that support FIDO standards, such as 1Password. They, and other security keys from companies like Yubico, can act as second factors to secure your account even if an attacker obtains your username and password. They also fight back against phishing since they won’t authenticate a login to a fake website that’s trying to steal your credentials. The Titan keys also work with Google’s Advanced Protection Program, which is designed to provide extra security to people whose accounts may be targeted.

Google’s current USB-A security key already includes NFC and sells for $25. The USB-A plus NFC key that Google lists in its blog post will sell for $30, but it comes with a USB-C adapter. The USB-A key currently listed on the store doesn’t include one, unless bought as part of a (sold-out) bundle, according to Google’s spec page.

Google’s NFC / Bluetooth / USB key, which was made available to the public in 2018, will no longer be sold as part of the updated lineup. It’s already listed as sold out on Google’s store page. Google’s blog post says that it’s discontinuing the…

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