Team Profile

Etherisc GmbH

Etherisc is a pioneering project in the field of decentralized insurance, dedicated to creating an open and accessible platform for blockchain-based insurance solutions. The organization has a robust track record of building innovative products in collaboration with renowned partners, such as Lemonade Insurance, KfW, and Hannover Re. Etherisc’s work bridges blockchain technology and the insurance industry, fostering trust and transparency in decentralized finance.

Further details about Etherisc’s projects and accomplishments can be found on the official website: https://etherisc.com.

Team Members

Christoph Mussenbrock

Co-Founder of Etherisc, Christoph has an extensive background in the cooperative banking sector in Germany. He served on the board of a cooperative bank before transitioning to the IT sector, where he became Chief Program Manager for Credit Solutions and Chief of Strategy Development at Fiducia & GAD IT AG, one of Germany’s largest IT service providers. Christoph holds a master’s degree in mathematics, with a thesis focused on formal soft- and hardware verification.

Dr. Matthias Zimmermann

As the CTO of Etherisc, Matthias brings a wealth of experience in software architecture and blockchain-based solutions. His expertise lies in developing scalable and secure decentralized applications, making him instrumental in advancing Etherisc’s technological initiatives.

Team of (Redacted*)

Our security research partner contributes a team of leading hardware security professionals, who are experienced in the state of the art of hardware design and protection. They operate one of the most sophisticated hardware labs, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the comprehensive analysis and enhancement of hardware security. Equipped with advanced tools and technologies, the lab specializes in evaluating and fortifying integrated circuits, microchips, and multi-chip modules against a wide array of physical and logical attack vectors.​

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Side-Channel Analysis: The lab conducts in-depth examinations of cryptographic implementations to detect vulnerabilities that may leak sensitive information through indirect channels such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions. Utilizing high-precision measurement equipment, researchers perform sophisticated attacks—including Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and Electromagnetic Analysis (EMA)—to assess and improve the resilience of hardware against such threats. ​

• Fault Injection Attacks: Researchers employ techniques to deliberately induce faults in hardware systems to study their effects on security. The lab is equipped with multiple laser stations capable of frontside and backside fault injection, allowing for precise manipulation of electronic circuits. These methods are instrumental in evaluating a device’s robustness against attacks that exploit induced errors to extract secret information or alter execution flows. ​

• Hardware Penetration Testing: The lab offers offensive security analyses of embedded systems, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities arising from design flaws or insecure configurations. This includes evaluating firmware and intellectual property protection features in microcontrollers, as well as assessing the security of various interfaces and communication protocols. ​

• Tamper Protection and Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs): To safeguard against physical tampering, the lab develops and evaluates tamper protection methods, including the use of PUFs. These unique hardware fingerprints assess the physical integrity of devices, ensuring that any unauthorized alterations are detectable. ​

• Machine Learning Applications in Security: The integration of machine learning techniques enhances the analysis of complex data derived from side-channel measurements and sensor networks. By applying advanced algorithms, the lab improves the detection of subtle vulnerabilities and refines countermeasure strategies. ​ aisec.fraunhofer.de

In recognition of its rigorous standards and capabilities, the Hardware Security Lab achieved certification to Evaluation Assurance Level 7 (EAL 7) under the Common Criteria in 2024. This distinction underscores the lab’s commitment to providing top-tier security evaluations for both hardware and software systems. ​

Contact Information

• Organization: Etherisc GmbH
• Contact: Christoph Mussenbrock
• Email: christoph@etherisc.com
• Twitter: @etherisc
• Website: https://etherisc.com
• Location: Munich, Germany
• Time Zone: CET/CEST