TAMPER-PROOF DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS

A data processing device having a housing in which are arranged a processor, a program memory connected to the processor and at least one hardware component connected to the processor via a data line and supplied with power via a power supply line, comprises a microcontroller arranged in the housing and having an interface and a persistent key memory in which the public key of a first public/private key pair is stored, wherein a switch controlled by the microcontroller is interposed in the data line, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive a signature, generated using the private key of the first key pair, of a memory module detachably connected to the interface via the interface, to verify the signature using the public key of the first key pair, and to switch on the switch in the case of verification.