Sensor networks are the key to gathering the information needed by smart environments, However, the highly constrained nature of sensors imposes a difficult challenge: their reduced availability of memory, processing power and energy hinders the deployment of many modern cryptographic algorithms considered secure, a number of extensive analyses comparing different encryption algorithms and key management schemes have been developed, while very little attention has been given to message authentication solutions. The purpose is to assess the options for protecting the integrity of messages in sensor networks and have a solution that protects against all kinds of attacks. A polynomial - based scheme was introduced to provide pair-wise connectivity, high scalability and also observed to be resilient against both traffic analysis and node capture attacks. In this paper, we propose a scalable message authentication scheme based on quantum cryptography which exchange a key securely by means of quantum key distribution and allows the breaking of various popular public-key encryption and signature schemes (e.g., RSA and ElGamal).
Sensor networks are the key to gathering the information needed by smart environments, However, the highly constrained nature of sensors imposes a difficult challenge: their reduced availability of memory, processing power and energy hinders the deployment of many modern cryptographic algorithms considered secure, a number of extensive analyses comparing different encryption algorithms and key management schemes have been developed, while very little attention has been given to message authentication solutions. The purpose is to assess the options for protecting the integrity of messages in sensor networks and have a solution that protects against all kinds of attacks. A polynomial - based scheme was introduced to provide pair-wise connectivity, high scalability and also observed to be resilient against both traffic analysis and node capture attacks. In this paper, we propose a scalable message authentication scheme based on quantum cryptography which exchange a key securely by means of quantum key distribution and allows the breaking of various popular public-key encryption and signature schemes (e.g., RSA and ElGamal).
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are quiet dynamic technology made up of discrete multi-function sensor nodes that interconnect wireless for short distances. WSNs have distinct traits as well as limitations that impede the development of efficient attack detection and prevention methods. Security in WSN is a more difficult task because of the processing limits of sensor nodes as well as the nature of wireless communications. The widespread WSNs usage has given development to several forms of threats. To guard against threats, appropriate security measures must be implemented. Cryptography, specifically encryption, plays a pivotal role in protecting data from unauthorized access. However, not all encryption methods are equally effective, as some exhibit vulnerabilities. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is the most efficient option because of its reduced key size. Comprehensive safety despite lower key sizes leads to area as well as power efficient crypto systems. With recent technological advancements, traditional encryption no longer appears to be a safe solution for security and privacy of data. Quantum cryptography uses quantum physics processes to provide safe data transmission among sender and recipient. However, quantum cryptography comprises a revolution over network security field. Therefore, this research focuses on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with ECC for effective authentication, key management and energy conservation. Thus, the proposed QKD-ECC method is implemented and evaluated with traditional ECC and other cryptography method for better WSN security and privacy of data transmission.
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are systems made up of sensor nodes that communicate wirelessly over short distances, with adaptability and functionality at their coreessence. These networks have traits. Face challenges in devising effective strategies for identifying and thwarting attacks due to limitations, in individual sensor node processing power and the essence of wireless communication. Securing WSN poses a challenge given the constrained processing abilities of sensor nodes and the inherent nature of communication while facing various security threats that have emerged alongside the widespread adoption of these networks. To protect against these dangers it's crucial to put in place the security measures Encryption's key, to keeping data safe from unauthorized users Nevertheless not all encryption methods are equally strong as some are vulnerable Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is considered the best option due to its smaller key sizes offering strong security with efficiency in space and energy As technology advances conventional encryption techniques are seen as inadequate, for ensuring data privacy and security Utilizing principles from physics to ensure data transmission, between the sender and receiver is a groundbreaking advancement in network security known as quantum cryptography. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) combined with ECC is highlighted in this study, for authentication processes, key management and energy efficiency. A novel method called QKD ECC has been put into practice. Compared against ECC and other encryption methods to bolster the security of WSN and safeguard the confidentiality of data exchange.
Abstract Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been heavily deployed to facilitate continuous monitoring of their environments as they collect the necessary data which enable autonomous decision making or predictive control. As such, these networks have found applications in fields such as smart agriculture, military, industrial automation, and healthcare. During the message transfers among sensors or between sensors and mobile sinks, public communication channels are deployed. This exposes the collected data to a myriad of security threats such as tampering, eavesdropping, and replay. Although the recent past has witnessed the development of numerous security frameworks for this ecosystem, most of the current solutions are defenseless against threats such as session hijacking, side-channeling, ephemeral secret leakages and quantum attacks. In this paper, we leverage on lattice cryptography to develop an effective authentication framework for the WSNs. Formal security analysis confirms the robustness of our protocol under the Random Oracle Model (ROM). In addition, extensive semantic security analyses demonstrate the resilience of the proposed framework against typical attacks such as denial of service, key compromise and forgery. In terms of performance, we show that the developed framework incurs slightly lower computation and energy overheads when compared with its peers.
Abstract Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a crucial role in various applications, ranging from environmental monitoring to industrial automation that require high levels of security. With the development of quantum technologies, many security mechanisms may be hacked due to the promising capabilities of quantum computation. To address this challenge, quantum protocols have emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the security of wireless sensor communications. One of the common types of quantum protocols is quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols, which are investigated to allow two participants with fully quantum capabilities to share a random secret key, while semi-quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocols are designed to perform the same task using fewer quantum resources to make quantum communications more realizable and practical. Quantum walk (QW) plays an essential role in quantum computing, which is a universal quantum computational paradigm. In this work, we utilize the advantages of QW to design three authenticated quantum cryptographic protocols to establish secure channels for data transmission between sensor nodes: the first one is authenticated quantum key distribution (AQKD), the second one is authenticated semi-quantum key distribution (ASQKD) with one of the two participants having limited quantum capabilities, and the last one is ASQKD but both legitimate users possess limited quantum resources. The advantages of the proposed protocols are that the partners can exchange several different keys with the same exchanged qubits, and the presented protocols depend on a one-way quantum communication channel. In contrast, all previously designed SQKD protocols rely on two-way quantum communication. Security analyses prove that the presented protocols are secure against various well-known attacks and highly efficient. The utilization of the presented protocols in wireless sensor communications opens up new avenues for secure and trustworthy data transmission, enabling the deployment of resilient WSNs in critical applications. This work also paves the way for future exploration of quantum-based security protocols and their integration into WSNs for enhanced data protection.
The Internet of Things (IoT) now underpins critical systems like healthcare monitors, smart home, smart grids, automotive V2V & V2X networks, and industrial controls but it still relies on classical cryptography, whose security assumptions are vulnerable to quantum computers. A large quantum computer could run Shor’s algorithm to break RSA/ECC and use Grover’s algorithm to accelerate brute-forcing of symmetric keys, undermining the confidentiality and authentication of data in these IoT applications. Researchers have proposed quantum cryptographic solutions. Quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum random number generators (QRNGs) exploit quantum mechanics to detect eavesdropping and deliver provably secure key material. For example, chip-scale QRNGs can be embedded in IoT sensors to generate true random keys, boosting resistance to brute-force attacks. These quantum techniques provide information-theoretic secrecy, for instance, QKD-generated keys have been used to authenticate smart-grid SCADA. However, most IoT devices are resource-constrained, making direct deployment of conventional QKD hardware challenging. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) complements quantum methods by providing algorithms such as lattice-based, hash-based that resist quantum attacks on existing hardware. Standardized PQC can be deployed via software updates on legacy IoT nodes, enabling scalable and quantum-safe security within current constraints. Researchers are exploring lightweight PQC for connected cars and e-health sensors. Hybrid approaches combining QKD/QRNG with PQC offer a layered defense. Since QKD protocols are regarded as ‘future-proof’ and PQC standards mature, their combined use will be essential for robust, quantum-safe IoT security. Miniaturizing quantum components such as integrated QKD/QRNG modules and optimizing lightweight PQC schemes for low-power IoT devices are future research directions to secure IoT networks.
The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has connected billions of smart devices across healthcare, transportation, industrial automation, and smart home environments. While IoT has enhanced automation and data-driven decision-making, its widespread deployment has also increased the risk of cyberattacks. Conventional public-key cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks, particularly those based on Shor's algorithm. This paper proposes a Quantum-Resistant Cryptographic Framework (QRCF) for secure IoT communication using lattice-based cryptography integrated with lightweight authentication and efficient key management. The framework is designed to meet the computational limitations of IoT devices while ensuring long-term confidentiality and integrity. Performance evaluation demonstrates improvements in security resilience, authentication efficiency, and communication reliability compared with traditional cryptographic approaches. The proposed framework offers a scalable and future-ready solution for protecting IoT ecosystems in the post-quantum era.