Blockchain has been paving the way for new business opportunities as we have witnessed over the last few years. It will continue to proliferate further and be adopted in increasingly diverse sectors. One area of research in Blockchain is how it can be used in Internet of Things (IoT) based applications like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Smart cities and Healthcare. However, with the advent of quantum technology, some widely used security algorithms in blockchain are vulnerable (i.e., quantum algorithms can exponentially solve cryptographic algorithms used to digitally sign or encrypt data), thereby diminishing communication security. Thus, post-quantum algorithms are at the forefront of research to secure data before quantum technologies can fully mature. Early standardized post-quantum algorithms such as hash-based one-time signatures, relies on the proven one-way-ness of hashing algorithm. Hash-based one-time signatures require robust secret key management systems to prevent security degradation. To safeguard IoT applications from quantum threats, this paper proposes a solution which utilizes both hash-based one-time signatures and blockchain to cover each technology's weaknesses.
Blockchain has been paving the way for new business opportunities as we have witnessed over the last few years. It will continue to proliferate further and be adopted in increasingly diverse sectors. One area of research in Blockchain is how it can be used in Internet of Things (IoT) based applications like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Smart cities and Healthcare. However, with the advent of quantum technology, some widely used security algorithms in blockchain are vulnerable (i.e., quantum algorithms can exponentially solve cryptographic algorithms used to digitally sign or encrypt data), thereby diminishing communication security. Thus, post-quantum algorithms are at the forefront of research to secure data before quantum technologies can fully mature. Early standardized post-quantum algorithms such as hash-based one-time signatures, relies on the proven one-way-ness of hashing algorithm. Hash-based one-time signatures require robust secret key management systems to prevent security degradation. To safeguard IoT applications from quantum threats, this paper proposes a solution which utilizes both hash-based one-time signatures and blockchain to cover each technology's weaknesses.
In the contemporary era, the global proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices exceeds 15 billion, serving functions from wearables to smart grid monitoring. These devices frequently manage sensitive data, underscoring the need for secure and reliable IoT networks leveraging blockchain technology. A key innovation of this study is an approach to mitigate vulnerabilities that quantum computing poses to blockchain-based IoT systems, which existing cryptographic methods cannot effectively address. Quantum computers could exploit these weaknesses to compromise key-pair generation and extract private keys from transaction signatures. To overcome this, the research introduces an optimized implementation of the post-quantum digital signature algorithm Dilithium-5, ensuring blockchain security and quantum readiness. These transaction signatures are designed for low-power, cost-effective microcontrollers, such as the ESP32, making the solution accessible for a wide range of IoT devices. In addition, the study includes a case study involving a post-quantum safe portable device for measuring blood oxygen levels and heart rate, illustrating the practical benefits and effectiveness of the proposed solution in enhancing IoT security against quantum threats. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach ensures quantum-resistant security while maintaining performance efficiency, making it suitable for real-world IoT applications.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is involved in almost every industry, paving the way for innovative applications, including smart cities, intelligent systems, smart homes, smart agriculture, healthcare, and more. However, due to their asset value, these applications are under continuous and evolving cyberattacks. Furthermore, the advent of quantum computing presents a severe threat to traditional cryptographic methods that typically secure IoT systems, potentially rendering existing security mechanisms ineffective against quantum-enabled attacks. To tackle quantum-enabled and traditional cyberattacks, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) has emerged as a promising solution for providing future-proof security for IoT devices and networks against the quantum computing threat. PQC algorithms can resist cyberattacks from classical and quantum computers, ensuring long-term security solutions. This article explores the integration of PQC into practical IoT systems. It highlights the vulnerabilities of classical cryptographic methods and the necessity of transitioning to quantum-resistant solutions. Moreover, the implementation of PQC on IoT systems is analyzed. By proactively exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with PQC, this research lays out future directions for implementing robust, scalable, and secure IoT systems.
The rapid expansion and inherent resource limitations of Internet of Things (IoT) devices necessitate robust, future-proof security solutions, particularly against sophisticated data integrity threats and the imminent risk of quantum computing attacks. This paper provides a systematic literature review (SLR) of the architectural integration of blockchain with quantum technologies (quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC)) for a two-stage trust model in IoT communication. This review summarizes existing methods and answers three key research questions. The results show that permissioned blockchains are primarily used for trust management to ensure the non-repudiation and immutability of data. Notably, there is a clear dividing line in the application of quantum solutions: QKD is particularly suitable for securing high-capacity backbone communications (server gateways), whereas PQC (especially lattice-based algorithms such as Kyber and Dilithium) is the mainstream resource-efficient solution for IoT terminals. However, this integration also has significant drawbacks, such as high latency due to blockchain consensus mechanisms and increased memory and CPU requirements from PQC implementations. The main challenge is the lack of standardized protocols for integrating QKD key management with smart contract functionality. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current architectures, assesses their performance trade-offs, and outlines a clear research agenda aimed at developing standardized hybrid protocols for future trusted IoT systems and optimizing resource-efficient, quantum-resistant consensus mechanisms.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is gaining ground as a pervasive presence around us by enabling miniaturized “things” with computation and communication capabilities to collect, process, analyze, and interpret information. Consequently, trustworthy data act as fuel for applications that rely on the data generated by these things, for critical decision-making processes, data debugging, risk assessment, forensic analysis, and performance tuning. Currently, secure and reliable data communication in IoT is based on public-key cryptosystems such as the elliptic curve cryptosystem (ECC). Nevertheless, the reliance on the security of de-facto cryptographic primitives is at risk of being broken by the impending quantum computers. Therefore, the transition from classical primitives to quantum-safe primitives is indispensable to ensure the overall security of data en route. In this article, we investigate applications of one of the postquantum signatures called hash-based signature (HBS) schemes for the security of IoT devices in the quantum era. We give a succinct overview of the evolution of HBS schemes with an emphasis on their construction parameters and associated strengths and weaknesses. Then, we outline the striking features of HBS schemes and their significance for IoT security in the quantum era. We also investigate the optimal selection of HBS in the IoT networks with respect to their performance-constrained requirements, resource-constrained nature, and design optimization objectives. In addition to ongoing standardization efforts, we also highlight current and future research and deployment challenges along with possible solutions. Finally, we outline the essential measures and recommendations that must be adopted by the IoT ecosystem while preparing for the quantum world.
The internet of things (IoT) has been used in a wide range of applications since its emergence, including smart cities, intelligent systems, smart homes, smart agriculture, and healthcare. IoT systems rely on information processing and sharing, where data leakages may jeopardize their security and privacy. On the other hand, quantum computers are poised to solve complex problems that traditional computers cannot. However, due to the fact that the majority of cyber algorithms are based on significant computational complexity, quantum computing poses a substantial threat to the cyber security of global digital infrastructure, including IoT networks, smart cities, banking, and intelligent infrastructure. This chapter discusses potential security and privacy measures for a post-quantum world against threats posed by quantum computing, including post-quantum cryptography, quantum software testing, post-quantum blockchain technology, and architectural considerations for creating post-quantum secure IoT systems.
The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has revolutionized digital communication, yet it simultaneously poses unprecedented security challenges due to constrained device capabilities and increasing cyber threats. Conventional cryptographic techniques, while currently effective, are vulnerable to emerging quantum computing technologies that threaten to render classical encryption obsolete. This paper explores the integration of quantum-safe cryptographic techniques within IoT networks to ensure long-term confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It examines post-quantum cryptographic primitives, including lattice-based, hash-based, multivariate, and code-based schemes, and evaluates their suitability for resource-constrained IoT environments. The study focuses on lightweight implementation strategies, balancing computational efficiency with robust security requirements. Simulation analyses demonstrate that properly optimized quantum safe protocols can provide resilient encryption, key exchange, and digital signature functionalities without overwhelming device resources. Furthermore, the integration of these techniques with IoT communication standards and secure network protocols ensures end-to-end protection across heterogeneous networks. Challenges such as latency, energy consumption, and scalability are addressed, highlighting the necessity of tailored cryptographic solutions for diverse IoT applications. The findings confirm that quantum safe cryptography is essential for future-proofing IoT networks, offering sustainable security measures that remain resilient against both classical and quantum adversaries, thereby supporting the continued expansion of secure and intelligent interconnected systems.