A cryptography processor includes a central processing unit and a
co-processor, the co-processor comprising a plurality of calculating
subunits as well as a single control unit which is coupled to each of the
plurality of calculating subunits. A cryptographic operation is
distributed among the individual calculating subunits in the form of
sub-operations by the control unit. The central processing unit, the
plurality of calculating subunits and the control unit are integrated on
a single chip, the chip comprising a common supply current access for
supplying the plurality of calculating subunits and the control unit with
current. Due to the arrangement of the calculating subunit in parallel,
on the hand, the throughput of the cryptography processor is increased.
On the other hand, however, the current profile that may be detected at
the supply current access is randomised to such an extent that an
attacker can no longer infer numbers processed in the individual
calculating subunits.