US Patent 7979628 Re-flash protection for flash memory

A method for storing data includes providing a memory package including an integrated circuit containing a non-volatile memory and counter circuitry. The data is written to the non-volatile memory. The counter circuitry is operated to maintain a count of write operations performed on the non-volatile memory. The data and the count from the memory package are received at a controller, separate from the memory package, and the data is authenticated in response to the count.