Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Security of Infocommunication Systems and Internet of Things

Key Distribution in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Random Channel Selection

Sergiy Nichyi, Петро Шпатар, Bohdan Nichy

Published Jun 30, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The article considers the possibility of using a key distribution method in a wireless sensor network by analogy with the quantum key distribution method. It is assumed that the wireless sensor network is created using hardware that allows the use of a predetermined N communication channels in the key distribution session, out of all possible ones (Nmin ≤ N ≤ Nmax). The initialization of the key distribution procedure is initiated by the master device/central node. At a certain time, the initiator switches to the transmission mode, and the slave devices to the reception mode. The master device generates k binary code packets (half-bytes, bytes), the number of which is predetermined. Each packet is transmitted over a randomly selected channel nTX from the range N. Slave devices receive the packet data over a randomly selected channel nRX from the range N. Based on the received packets, the master and slave devices generate a key for data exchange in a pair. The key generation algorithm is as follows: the slave device randomly selects a reception channel from consecutive k packets, of which there is a number of channel matches q, with reliable data (nTX = nRX). The remaining (k – q) received packets are unreliable, because they contain random data (channel mismatch nTX ≠ nRX). The slave device transmits to the master device a binary packet with a sequence of its own reception channel numbers. The encryption-decryption key for the master-slave pair is formed on the basis of q reliable packets, which are also determined by the master device from the received packet of the sequence of reception channels. The cryptographic stability of the generated key depends on the number of received packets q containing reliable data, a given number of channels N of the slave device of the network, as well as on the number of channels identified by a potential attacker. Methods for software and hardware implementation of this algorithm are considered, and an analysis of experimental results of using the proposed algorithm is carried out.

DOI
10.31861/sisiot2026.1.01020

Related papers

Secure Quantum Key Distribution Encryption method for Efficient Data Communication in Wireless Body Area Sensor Net-works

Y Sai Suguna, B Kavya Reddy, V Keerthi Durga +1 more

Wireless sensor networks has found its advancement in sensing the physiological parameters of human body through WBAN. Such nodes are either implanted or surface mounted on the human body in a particular position. The main purpose of these networks is to send the data generated by the wearable device outside the WLAN or the Internet. The BAN will continuously monitor the psychological changes like blood volume pressure (BVP), Brain signals etc. Uncertainty in the normal values will result in transmit all the information to the respective recipient to take required treatment. If an emergency is detected, the doctor instantly updates the patient’s health by sending a specific message. There is limited confidentiality, so the intruders will gather sensitive data. Public key cryptography can be used to create an unprotected communication channel. It also provides a convenient way to implement keys. This paper is focusing on a unique key generation technique called Quantum key distribution, which is used to create symmetric key method by using quantum properties of optics to transfer information from one Client to another in One-Time Pad manner. The special feature of the technique is to guarantee that the key cannot be intercepted during transmission without alerting the users to provide high authentication for received data.

International Journal of Engineering & Technology•May 31, 2018•10 citations

Novel approach to extract a secret key from channel measurements in WSN

Shekhar M. Nalawade, Sachin D. Babar

For secure communication, we need random cryptographic keys. However, the sensor node which is slow processing device which is not able to perform the operations those generates a complex public key. Also, they cannot generate the good random number generator which is useful for key generation. This problem is solved by doing the measurements of per-packet signal strength which helps us to generate secret keys. The packet strength of another device as one of the sources of randomness is received using this generator. We can also use as a bidirectional synchronized transmission of constant bit rate (CBR) between two parties. Here one device stand on the surface and other devices moves around it. The each device can receive the result of source of randomness from the per-packet power. It also provides security from a third party. A third party cannot extract the information from the per-packet signal measurement generated by any devices if, it is not located near any transceiver's location or standing devices. Here results of the solution in network simulator NS-2 also present.

•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

A Novel Physical Layer Secret Key Generation Method for Wireless Sensor Networks

Mehmet Ali Aygtil, Hakan Ali Çırpan, Hüseyin Arslan

Wireless sensor networks are indispensable across various applications, from environmental surveillance to indus-trial automation, owing to their ability to collect and transmit data autonomously. However, due to the broadcast nature of wireless systems, these systems are vulnerable to eavesdropping attacks. Recently, channel-based secret key generation methods have been widely used in the literature. In these methods, Alice and Bob generate random signals and share these signals with each other. Then, using the secret key paired multiplication with the channel between them, a secret key is shared between legitimate users, while illegitimate nodes cannot access the key. However, these methods consider only two users. This paper proposes a novel method for multiple users. Extensive simulation proves the effectiveness of the proposed method. However, when the number of users increases, the performance of the proposed method decreases.

IEEE International Black Sea Conference on Communications and Networking•Jun 24, 2024•1 citation

Secure Key Generation in Sensor Networks Based on Frequency-Selective Channels

Matthias Wilhelm, Ivan Martinović, Jens Burkhard Schmitt

Key management in wireless sensor networks faces several unique challenges. The scale, resource limitations, and new threats such as node capture suggest the use of in-network key generation. However, the cost of such schemes is often high because their security is based on computational complexity. Recently, several research contributions justified experimentally that the wireless channel itself can be used to generate information-theoretic secure keys. By exchanging sampling messages during device movement, a bit string is derived known only to the two involved entities. Yet, movement is not the only option to generate randomness: the channel response strongly depends on the signal frequency as well. In this work, we introduce a key generation protocol based on the frequency-selectivity of multipath fading channels. The practical advantage of this approach is that it does not require device movement during key establishment. Thus the frequent case of a sensor network with static nodes is supported. We show the protocol's applicability by implementing it on MICAz motes, and evaluating its robustness and security through experiments and analysis. The error correction property of the protocol mitigates the effects of measurement errors and temporal effects, giving rise to an agreement rate of over 97 %.

arXiv:1005.0712•IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications•Aug 23, 2013•81 citations

Instant and Secure Channel Key Extraction Scheme Among Wireless Devices

Hong Qiang Zhao, Enting Guo, Chunhua Su +1 more

Device-to-device communication is increasingly important for emerging wireless applications, including the Internet of Things and industry mobile networks. To establish a secure communication channel between multiple legitimate devices, key agreement is an essential first step. Physical layer channel information is a promising technology for achieving communication security by generating a shared channel key. In this paper, we propose an efficient and random method for generating channel keys based on channel state information (CSI). Firstly, we preprocess the available subcarriers to reduce the correlation of adjacent subcarriers. Secondly, we propose a novel quantization process to generate random and secure channel keys. The part consists of two phases: the quantization phase and the inconsistency removal phase. In the quantization stage, CSI sub carriers are grouped into small blocks, and appropriate thresholds are generated. Then, wireless users quantize the CSI subcarriers into initial bit streams of 0 and 1 with different thresholds. In the inconsistency removal phase, we design an error correction mechanism where wireless users exchange the discarded index sequences in the initial bit streams to achieve key sequence consistency. We implement the proposed scheme using off-the-shelf wireless devices and evaluate its performance. The experimental results show that each CSI packet can produce 30 bits, which have passed the NIST randomness tests.

Globecom•Dec 4, 2023•4 citations

Improving Wireless Sensor Network Security Using Quantum Key Distribution

Laith H. Alhasnawy, Ameer K. AL-Mashanji

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are promoting the spread of the Internet for devices in all areas of life, which makes it is a promising technology in the future. In the coming days, as attack technologies become more improved, security will have an important role in WSN. Currently, quantum computers pose a significant risk to current encryption technologies that work in tandem with intrusion detection systems because it is difficult to implement quantum properties on sensors due to the resource limitations. In this paper, quantum computing is used to develop a future-proof, robust, lightweight and resource-conscious approach to sensor networks. Great emphasis is placed on the concepts of using the BB84 protocol with the AES algorithm in WSN security. The results of analysis indicated a high level of security between the data by depending on the generation of secure keys, and reached an accuracy rate of about (80-95) % based on using NIST statistical. The efficiency of the work increased to 0.704 after using the Quantum Bit Error Rate equation, eventually increasing the network performance. This results in the reduction of the overall amount of energy, and the time required for performing the key exchange in the encryption and decryption processes decreased.

Baghdad Science Journal•Mar 20, 2023•10 citations
The article considers the possibility of using a key distribution method in a wireless sensor network by analogy with the quantum key distribution method. It is assumed that the wireless sensor network is created using hardware that allows the use of a predetermined N communication channels in the key distribution session, out of all possible ones (Nmin ≤ N ≤ Nmax). The initialization of the key distribution procedure is initiated by the master device/central node. At a certain time, the initiator switches to the transmission mode, and the slave devices to the reception mode. The master device generates k binary code packets (half-bytes, bytes), the number of which is predetermined. Each packet is transmitted over a randomly selected channel nTX from the range N. Slave devices receive the packet data over a randomly selected channel nRX from the range N. Based on the received packets, the master and slave devices generate a key for data exchange in a pair. The key generation algorithm is as follows: the slave device randomly selects a reception channel from consecutive k packets, of which there is a number of channel matches q, with reliable data (nTX = nRX). The remaining (k – q) received packets are unreliable, because they contain random data (channel mismatch nTX ≠ nRX). The slave device transmits to the master device a binary packet with a sequence of its own reception channel numbers. The encryption-decryption key for the master-slave pair is formed on the basis of q reliable packets, which are also determined by the master device from the received packet of the sequence of reception channels. The cryptographic stability of the generated key depends on the number of received packets q containing reliable data, a given number of channels N of the slave device of the network, as well as on the number of channels identified by a potential attacker. Methods for software and hardware implementation of this algorithm are considered, and an analysis of experimental results of using the proposed algorithm is carried out.
Wireless sensor networks has found its advancement in sensing the physiological parameters of human body through WBAN. Such nodes are either implanted or surface mounted on the human body in a particular position. The main purpose of these networks is to send the data generated by the wearable device outside the WLAN or the Internet. The BAN will continuously monitor the psychological changes like blood volume pressure (BVP), Brain signals etc. Uncertainty in the normal values will result in transmit all the information to the respective recipient to take required treatment. If an emergency is detected, the doctor instantly updates the patient’s health by sending a specific message. There is limited confidentiality, so the intruders will gather sensitive data. Public key cryptography can be used to create an unprotected communication channel. It also provides a convenient way to implement keys. This paper is focusing on a unique key generation technique called Quantum key distribution, which is used to create symmetric key method by using quantum properties of optics to transfer information from one Client to another in One-Time Pad manner. The special feature of the technique is to guarantee that the key cannot be intercepted during transmission without alerting the users to provide high authentication for received data.
For secure communication, we need random cryptographic keys. However, the sensor node which is slow processing device which is not able to perform the operations those generates a complex public key. Also, they cannot generate the good random number generator which is useful for key generation. This problem is solved by doing the measurements of per-packet signal strength which helps us to generate secret keys. The packet strength of another device as one of the sources of randomness is received using this generator. We can also use as a bidirectional synchronized transmission of constant bit rate (CBR) between two parties. Here one device stand on the surface and other devices moves around it. The each device can receive the result of source of randomness from the per-packet power. It also provides security from a third party. A third party cannot extract the information from the per-packet signal measurement generated by any devices if, it is not located near any transceiver's location or standing devices. Here results of the solution in network simulator NS-2 also present.
Wireless sensor networks are indispensable across various applications, from environmental surveillance to indus-trial automation, owing to their ability to collect and transmit data autonomously. However, due to the broadcast nature of wireless systems, these systems are vulnerable to eavesdropping attacks. Recently, channel-based secret key generation methods have been widely used in the literature. In these methods, Alice and Bob generate random signals and share these signals with each other. Then, using the secret key paired multiplication with the channel between them, a secret key is shared between legitimate users, while illegitimate nodes cannot access the key. However, these methods consider only two users. This paper proposes a novel method for multiple users. Extensive simulation proves the effectiveness of the proposed method. However, when the number of users increases, the performance of the proposed method decreases.
Key management in wireless sensor networks faces several unique challenges. The scale, resource limitations, and new threats such as node capture suggest the use of in-network key generation. However, the cost of such schemes is often high because their security is based on computational complexity. Recently, several research contributions justified experimentally that the wireless channel itself can be used to generate information-theoretic secure keys. By exchanging sampling messages during device movement, a bit string is derived known only to the two involved entities. Yet, movement is not the only option to generate randomness: the channel response strongly depends on the signal frequency as well. In this work, we introduce a key generation protocol based on the frequency-selectivity of multipath fading channels. The practical advantage of this approach is that it does not require device movement during key establishment. Thus the frequent case of a sensor network with static nodes is supported. We show the protocol's applicability by implementing it on MICAz motes, and evaluating its robustness and security through experiments and analysis. The error correction property of the protocol mitigates the effects of measurement errors and temporal effects, giving rise to an agreement rate of over 97 %.
Device-to-device communication is increasingly important for emerging wireless applications, including the Internet of Things and industry mobile networks. To establish a secure communication channel between multiple legitimate devices, key agreement is an essential first step. Physical layer channel information is a promising technology for achieving communication security by generating a shared channel key. In this paper, we propose an efficient and random method for generating channel keys based on channel state information (CSI). Firstly, we preprocess the available subcarriers to reduce the correlation of adjacent subcarriers. Secondly, we propose a novel quantization process to generate random and secure channel keys. The part consists of two phases: the quantization phase and the inconsistency removal phase. In the quantization stage, CSI sub carriers are grouped into small blocks, and appropriate thresholds are generated. Then, wireless users quantize the CSI subcarriers into initial bit streams of 0 and 1 with different thresholds. In the inconsistency removal phase, we design an error correction mechanism where wireless users exchange the discarded index sequences in the initial bit streams to achieve key sequence consistency. We implement the proposed scheme using off-the-shelf wireless devices and evaluate its performance. The experimental results show that each CSI packet can produce 30 bits, which have passed the NIST randomness tests.
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are promoting the spread of the Internet for devices in all areas of life, which makes it is a promising technology in the future. In the coming days, as attack technologies become more improved, security will have an important role in WSN. Currently, quantum computers pose a significant risk to current encryption technologies that work in tandem with intrusion detection systems because it is difficult to implement quantum properties on sensors due to the resource limitations. In this paper, quantum computing is used to develop a future-proof, robust, lightweight and resource-conscious approach to sensor networks. Great emphasis is placed on the concepts of using the BB84 protocol with the AES algorithm in WSN security. The results of analysis indicated a high level of security between the data by depending on the generation of secure keys, and reached an accuracy rate of about (80-95) % based on using NIST statistical. The efficiency of the work increased to 0.704 after using the Quantum Bit Error Rate equation, eventually increasing the network performance. This results in the reduction of the overall amount of energy, and the time required for performing the key exchange in the encryption and decryption processes decreased.