Abstract

Wireless body area network (WBAN) communica- tions in 400 MHz Medical Device Radio-communication (MedRa- dio) band seek wearable and implantable sensor nodes with extremely small antennas for reduced form factor. However, it is very challenging to shrink the 400 MHz antenna dimensions to sub-cm region for the conventional 50 Ω transmitters (TX) due to large wavelength. Thus there is a strong need to investigate extremely small, unconventional radiating elements with alternate TX topologies. In this work, we utilize extremely small surface mount inductors (SML) as a radiating element in non-50 Ω MedRadio band TX and present detailed fundamental analysis and models for its radiating-zone boundaries and corresponding path losses. To validate the proposed theory, simulation and measurement results of path loss of a cylindrical SML (1.2mm × 8.5mm) have been also presented, which show congruence with analytical models within ≤ 3 dB.

Abstract

The possibility of a quantum system to exhibit properties that are akin to both the classically held notions of being a particle and a wave, is one of the most intriguing aspects of the quantum description of nature. These aspects have been instrumental in understanding paradigmatic natural phenomena as well as to provide non-classical applications. A conceptual foundation for the wave nature of a quantum state has recently been presented, through the notion of quantum coherence. We introduce here a parallel notion for the particle nature of a quantum state of an arbitrary physical system. We provide elements of a resource theory of particleness, and give a quantification of the same. Finally, we provide evidence for a complementarity between the particleness thus introduced, and the coherence of an arbitrary quantum state.

Abstract

The next generation of Quantum Internet of Things (QIoT) has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, including smart homes, health-care, and smart cities, by enabling more sophisticated and interconnected systems. These applications incorporate advanced features, such as autonomous decision-making based on Quantum Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (QAI/ML) and context-aware functionality. The security of the data in these applications relies on traditional cryptographic techniques, which, however, face a growing threat due to the significant advancements in quantum computing, especially with the Shor's algorithm. This algorithm poses a substantial risk of breaking conventional cryptographic methods within a feasible timeframe. To address these emerging security challenges in the quantum realm, we propose a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) based on the BB84 protocol. This approach aims to provide robust authentication using certificates through a classical channel and secure quantum key exchange via a quantum channel in a public environment. The proposed QKD scheme is implemented using a client-server model in Python and Qiskit, demonstrating its practicality in real-world applications. The obtained results showcase the successful establishment of a secure session key between IoT smart (sensor) devices and gateway nodes, effectively mitigating potential threats such as eavesdropping.

Abstract

The potency of digital twins to mitigate the shortcomings of traditional mobility systems, such as Vehicular Adhoc Network (VANET) can reconfigure it into an intelligent transportation domain with bolstered processing, storage capabilities and decision-making abilities. The vehicular digital network is emerging as the industrial revolution, where each real-mobile entity (i.e., vehicle) is connected in the virtual environment through their digital replica, known as a digital twin. The real-time data synchronization in the digital twin-centric approach is achieved via an open communication channel. Unfortunately, leveraging the virtual-reality synthesized security perils in the network which consequently obligates rigorous privacy and security countermeasures such as authentication, encryption and signature techniques. In this paper, we have suggested a blockchain-based authentication framework for intra-twin and inter-twin communication in vehicular digital twin networks, and the integrated blockchain in the system assures data compactness and verifiability. The security of the protocol is investigated under the real or random oracle model (ROR) and is confirmed secure with non-mathematical security analysis. Eventually, the operational competences and functionality features are inspected with relevant state-of-the-arts. The findings of study states excel computation and communication overhead of suggested system than others and is seemly for vehicular digital twin network.

Abstract

This study provides an in-depth survey of quantum secure authentication and key agreement protocols, investigating the dynamic landscape of cryptographic techniques within the realm of quantum computing. With the potential threat posed by quantum computing advancements to classical cryptographic protocols, the exploration of secure authentication and key agreement in the quantum era becomes imperative for safeguarding communication systems. The research scrutinizes evolving methodologies and innovations designed to enhance the security of authentication processes and key agreements in the context of quantum computing. A comprehensive examination of existing protocols is conducted, elucidating their strengths, limitations, and potential vulnerabilities. The research includes a comparative assessment of security features and computational burdens associated with various quantum secure authentication and key agreement protocols. The survey concludes by underscoring the urgent need for further research in the development of secure and efficient quantum cloud computing environments, as well as lightweight post-quantum cryptographic primitives, to ensure the viability of quantum secure authentication protocols on a universal scale. This comprehensive overview serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the rapidly evolving field of quantum secure communication.

Abstract

The integration of fog computing and vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) has become increasingly important due to advancements in cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and intelligent transportation systems. However, ensuring secure communication in fog-based VANETs poses a significant challenge. To address this challenge, we propose a novel authenticated key agreement protocol that achieves mutual authentication, generates a secure session key for confidential communication, and ensures privacy protection without relying on bilinear pairing. We provide rigorous security proofs for our protocol, specifically tailored for fog-based VANETs, demonstrating its ability to meet their stringent security requirements. Simulations using NS3 allow for a comprehensive performance evaluation, providing insights into the protocol’s efficiency and scalability. Additionally, our protocol is highly efficient, featuring low computation and communication costs, thereby offering a practical and scalable solution for secure communication in fog-based VANETs.

Abstract

The Smart Power Grid (SPG) is pivotal in orchestrating and managing demand response in contemporary smart cities, leveraging the prowess of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Within the immersive SPG environment, the ubiquitous deployment of smart meters stands as a testament to their paramount importance in the realm of vigilant monitoring and oversight. These smart meters are installed on high-tension electricity lines and transmit information about electricity outages and other issues to the utility center. To access services from utility centers, smart meters need to communicate securely over a public channel, even though the network itself is insecure. However, potential attacks from adversaries (Ad) can exploit this communication. Therefore, protecting this communication is of utmost importance. Several privacy-preserving authentication protocols designed for SPG have been introduced in the literature. Nevertheless, a significant number of these protocols exhibit vulnerabilities to diverse security attacks. This article introduces a lightweight and anonymous authentication protocol specifically designed to address these concerns in the SPG environment. Our protocol ensures both security and efficiency, surpassing other comparable protocols in terms of its lightweight nature. By employing both formal and informal analysis, we showcase the robustness of our protocol against significant attacks while remaining lightweight. The proposed protocol provides added security features and incurs 23.8879% lower computation cost than related protocols. Consequently, our protocol is highly suitable for implementation in the SPG system.

Abstract

The use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) applications has generated significant interest in recent years. AIoT security comes under cybersecurity, which focuses on protecting cloud-based, internet-connected hardware, also known as IoT devices and the networks they are connected to. As the waste of energy is one of the major issues in the world each day, we waste a lot of energy through various sources. A certain light-controlling mechanism can be implemented to reduce the unnecessary power consumption load over the sources. In this paper, a secure artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT)-enabled authenticated key agreement technique for a smart living environment is proposed (in short, SAIoT-SL). The unique feature of the proposed SAIoT-SL is that it provides secure data transmissions throughout the communication of servers (i.e., cloud servers), users, and sensors. The conducted security analysis and formal security verification (through Scyther tool) prove the resilience of the proposed SAIoT-SL against various potential attacks. In the end, a practical implementation of the proposed SAIoT-SL is also provided to check its impact on real-world scenarios. In the conducted comparative study, it has been identified that the proposed SAIoT-SL outperformed the other existing techniques.

Abstract

The Internet of Drones (IoD) extends the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles, enabling them to participate in a connected network. In IoD infrastructure, drones communicate not only among themselves but also with users and a control center. This interconnected communication framework holds promise for various applications, from collaborative decision-making to real-time data exchange. However, the expansion of communication in IoD also introduces new challenges, particularly in terms of security, privacy and authentication. Unfortunately, the current authentication protocols are inadequate in offering robust security features against various attacks in the IoD environment. To address these security issues and limitations, we proposed a secure protocol for the IoD environment using chaotic maps and hash functions. In addition, we also employed a physically unclonable function in the development of the proposed protocol. We assess the security of the protocol through both informal and formal security analysis. The formal security analysis is conducted through a widely used random or real (RoR) model. The informal analysis shows the rigorous security features against various attacks, such as masquerading, anonymity violation, and physical cloning attacks. Moreover, we compare the performance of the devised protocol with similar existing protocols across important performance parameters, such as communication overhead, computation overhead, and security features. The devised protocol provides a 67.86% and 17.80% reduction in computation and communication overheads, respectively, as compared to related protocols. The analysis demonstrates the proposed protocol’s capacity to support secure communication in the IoD environment and satisfy desirable security attributes.

Abstract

With the emergence, development, and maturity of various Internet technologies, the healthcare industry is also trying to integrate with these technologies to provide more convenient healthcare services to patients by establishing telemedicine to develop and continuously improve the public healthcare system. Various protocols were proposed in the recent past to provide attack resistance in addition to computational efficiency; however, several such protocols were proved inefficient or prone to one or more attacks. Some of these protocols lack user anonymity and privacy. Keeping in consideration the flaws of existing protocols, in this article, we propose an efficient and secure protocol based on extremely lightweight symmetric key operations. In addition, we provide formal and informal analyses to demonstrate the protocol’s security. Moreover, to measure the efficiency of the proposed protocol, we conducted a real-time experiment, which confirms that the proposed protocol completes an authentication round in 117.1071 ms with an exchange of four messages and 2592 bits among the three participating entities. Finally, by comparing it with other protocols, we show that the proposed protocol has significant security advantages and performance benefits.