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ZeroKeyUSB relies on a single Master PIN to authenticate the user and derive the encryption key. The verification process is intentionally strict to block brute-force attempts while keeping the device usable day-to-day.

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Unlock sequence

  1. User enters a PIN using the capacitive touch pads.
  2. Firmware normalizes the digits (ensuring only 0–9 and optional ENTER).
  3. The PIN is hashed with SHA-256 and truncated to 16 bytes.
  4. Using this key, the firmware decrypts the signature block stored at EEPROM address 0x0003.
  5. If the decrypted bytes match the known pattern "ZKUSB\0\0\0\0", access is granted.
If the comparison fails, the attempt counter increments and the device enforces a delay before the next try.

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Adaptive delays

Failed attemptsLockout time
15 seconds
210 seconds
320 seconds
440 seconds
5+Doubles each time up to 2560 seconds
  • The counter is stored in EEPROM at 0x0002 so power cycling does not reset it.
  • Successful unlock resets the counter to zero.
  • During the delay the OLED shows a countdown and the keyboard interface remains idle.

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Secure input handling

  • Digits are buffered in a 16-byte array within SRAM and cleared after verification.
  • Touch events are ignored during lockout to prevent queue overflow.
  • The serial interface cannot send PIN digits; only physical touch input is accepted.
This ensures that malware on the host computer cannot brute-force the PIN without user awareness.

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Changing the PIN

  1. Unlock the device and open Menu → Security → Change PIN.
  2. Enter the current PIN for confirmation.
  3. Enter and confirm the new PIN.
  4. The firmware re-encrypts all credential pages with the new key and updates the signature block.
If the process is interrupted, the firmware rolls back to the previous key to avoid data loss.

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Forgotten PIN

ZeroKeyUSB has no recovery mechanism. The only option is to perform a factory reset, which wipes all EEPROM contents and clears the PIN signature. You can then set a new PIN, but previously stored credentials are unrecoverable unless you have a backup.