Abstract. In this paper we present a new approach to attacking a modular exponentiation and scalar multiplication based by distinguishing multiplications from squaring operations using the instantaneous power consumption. Previous approaches have been able to distinguish these operations based on information of the specific implementation of the embedded algorithm or the relationship between specific plaintexts. The proposed attack exploits the expected Hamming weight of the result of the computed operations. We extrapolate our observations and assess the consequences for elliptic curve cryptosystems when unified formulae for point addition are used
