secure element
Beginner
A tiny chip, like the one on a bank card, built to keep secret codes safe even if someone steals it.
Novice
A small, tamper-resistant processor with encryption hardware and sensors. It stores secret keys and carries out sensitive operations so the keys never leave the chip.
Expert
Designed against an attacker who holds the chip: probing, fault injection and side channels. Certified against a protection profile at high attack potential.
Explained in Fintech and trading (Industries).
See also: side-channel attack, Common Criteria.