[General] Firmware Extraction for Microcontroller Boards

[human304]

I have a Pickit 2 clone , USBasp and Arduino Uno.
I want to extract the hex files of the micro controllers in the boards to burn in other micron controllers .
So, that I can use them in case of failure .
How to do it ???

 

[engineerpervez1]

I have a Pickit 2 clone , USBasp and Arduino Uno.
I want to extract the hex files of the micro controllers in the boards to burn in other micron controllers .
So, that I can use them in case of failure .
How to do it ???

Firmware normally protected by lock bits within the controller, and there is no possible way to copy them,micro controller designer provide and issuer the firmware privacy,
ON the other hand Arduino UNO is open source software
its software you can download from its site.

 

[Dan Mills]

Oh, there are usually ways to dig the firmware back out, first deencapsulate the die, then use hydrofloric acid to remove the passivation layer followed by using a micropositioner and either e beam or sneak up on the relevant cell from the back with laser ablation.

Secure chips are an arms race, and neiter the pics or the smaller arms are particularly designed as really hardened targets.

All that said, it is usually an order of magnitude or so easier and cheaper to write your own firmware rather then hiring the very specialist reversing skills required.

Regards, Dan.