Can you read the contents of mask ROM with a microscope photograph? Yes, here’s how. Depending on the type of mask ROM, you might need to do some preliminary physical preparation beyond just opening the chip case, like weathering away layers. But in some cases, no preparation is needed, and you can just photograph right away and look at the components to determine the memory value.
This is also a very interesting website for a college class on reverse engineering as a broader subject.
20200906/DuckDuckGo mask rom microscopy
20200906/http://security.cs.rpi.edu/courses/hwre-spring2014/Lecture9_MaskROM.pdf
20200906/http://security.cs.rpi.edu/courses/hwre-spring2014/
And, reading in even further, this was an experimental class, the instructor was really busy to create and run the class, and also the instructor has his own blog he maintains with his expertise in the area. There’s also great backstory on how he got access to some of the more expensive lab equipment.
20200906/http://siliconexposed.blogspot.com/2014/03/getting-my-feet-wet-with-invasive.html
20200906/http://siliconexposed.blogspot.com/2014/03/getting-my-feet-wet-with-invasive_31.html
20200906/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9NqfSrOAhgs/UznZdglIXBI/AAAAAAAAAmY/zafjvutRzDs/s1600/DSCF4975_sm.jpg
And yes, on the class website, there are also photos taken during the labs. Again, this was an experimental class newly created.
20200906/https://imgur.com/a/ihTzB
20200906/https://imgur.com/a/LfKGr
Looking at the main page of the blog, now this is really interesting, experimental camping stove fuel? Well… reading to the comments at the end, it is not as novel as the author may think it to be, in Germany almost every store sells commercially gelled fuel, but can you get it as easily in the U.S.?
20200906/http://siliconexposed.blogspot.com/2017/04/quest-for-camp-stove-fuel.html