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

International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering

A Survey of Key Generation Techniques in Wireless channels for Physical Layer Security

Joanne Gomes, Sujata Kadam,

Published Mar 24, 2024• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Nowadays wireless networks are highly concerned about security. Compared to wireless networks, wired networks are less prone to attacks. The physical layer eavesdropping attack has a significant impact on wireless network security. The use of cryptographic methods at the higher layers of the OSI model is necessary for traditional security in wireless networks. These cryptographic keys can be replaced with key generation at physical layer exploiting the unpredictable channel properties. Current methods for generating wireless keys at the physical layer are examined in this paper. Comprehensive surveys in this regard are conducted of the guiding principles, performance indicators, and key generation process. Techniques for enhancing the effectiveness of key generation are also reviewed. The difficulties of using the strategy in each situation are then discussed, along with key generation applications in diverse situations. The paper ends with several recommendations for future investigations.

Related papers

Key Generation From Wireless Channels: A Review

Junqing Zhang, Trung Q. Duong, Alan Marshall +1 more

Key generation from the randomness of wireless channels is a promising alternative to public key cryptography for the establishment of cryptographic keys between any two users. This paper reviews the current techniques for wireless key generation. The principles, performance metrics and key generation procedure are comprehensively surveyed. Methods for optimizing the performance of key generation are also discussed. Key generation applications in various environments are then introduced along with the challenges of applying the approach in each scenario. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future studies.

IEEE Access•Jan 1, 2016•451 citations

Principles of Physical Layer Security in Multiuser Wireless Networks: A Survey

Amitav Mukherjee, S. Ali. A. Fakoorian, Jing Huang +1 more

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the domain of physical layer security in multiuser wireless networks. The essential premise of physical layer security is to enable the exchange of confidential messages over a wireless medium in the presence of unauthorized eavesdroppers, without relying on higher-layer encryption. This can be achieved primarily in two ways: without the need for a secret key by intelligently designing transmit coding strategies, or by exploiting the wireless communication medium to develop secret keys over public channels. The survey begins with an overview of the foundations dating back to the pioneering work of Shannon and Wyner on information-theoretic security. We then describe the evolution of secure transmission strategies from point-to-point channels to multiple-antenna systems, followed by generalizations to multiuser broadcast, multiple-access, interference, and relay networks. Secret-key generation and establishment protocols based on physical layer mechanisms are subsequently covered. Approaches for secrecy based on channel coding design are then examined, along with a description of inter-disciplinary approaches based on game theory and stochastic geometry. The associated problem of physical layer message authentication is also briefly introduced. The survey concludes with observations on potential research directions in this area.

arXiv:1011.3754•IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials•Jan 1, 2014•1,488 citations

Comparative Analysis of Quantization Schemes for Physical Layer Key generation

Sujata V. Kadam, Joanne Gomes

Wireless networks get subjected to the different attacks because of it's open nature. Eavesdropping attack, which occurs at the Physical layer of the OSI model, has a great impact on wireless network security. Conventional security in wireless networks depends on the cryptographic techniques. But in wireless sensor networks where a key management infrastructure may not be present and the power resources are also limited, generating a cryptographic key between two mobile entities becomes difficult. Hence Physical layer Security (PLS) has become a novel research solution. In PLS based key generation, a symmetric secret key is obtained at both the ends of the legitimate users using the properties of wireless channel. The key generation process includes four major blocks namely channel measurement, quantization of input samples, error detection and correction and privacy amplification. The output of quantizer has a great effect on the bit mismatch rate (BMR) between the two legitimate users. It also has an impact on key generation rate (KGR). Hence selecting a proper quantizer becomes very essential. In this paper different Quantization schemes are analyzed to achieve effective PLS between the two legitimate users.

International Conference on Advances in Science and Technology (ICAST)•Dec 2, 2022•4 citations

Physical Layer Security and Its Applications

R. K. Sharma

This chapter provides a survey of physical layer security and key generation methods. This includes mainly an overview of ongoing research in physical layer security in the present and next generation communication networks. Although higher layer security mechanisms and protocols address wireless security challenges in large extent, more security vulnerabilities arise due to the increasingly pervasive existence of wireless communication devices. In this context, the focus of this chapter is mainly on physical layer security. Some security attacks in general are briefly reviewed. Models of physical layer security, information theoretic works, and key generation methods including quantization and reconciliation are discussed. Some latest developments for enhanced security like Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, reconfigurable antennas, and multiple relay systems are also presented. Finally, some existing and emerging application scenarios of physical layer security are discussed.

Advances in information security, privacy, and ethics book series•Sep 20, 2013•2 citations

Physical Layer Enhanced Encryption over Wireless Channel

Yuhao Shi, Jie Tang, Ruifei Wang +3 more

This paper introduces a novel physical layer secure communication technology based on wireless channel direct encryption to enhance the encryption strength of the information source. Unlike traditional methods of key generation based on the reciprocity of the wireless channel, which typically involve quantizing the wireless channel and then negotiating keys, resulting in two completely identical bit strings generated as encryption keys for upper-level cryptographic algorithms between legitimate communication parties, this paper's approach quantizes the quantized bits of the wireless channel characteristics of both legitimate parties and directly encrypts the information source bits by using a designed lightweight encryption/decryption algorithm. Compared to traditional approaches, this paper's method avoids the key consultation process for physical layer key distribution, expanding the scenarios for the use of physical layer keys. Moreover, it can work independently at the same time with the upper layer cryptography to enhance the encryption strength. Through experimental verification, it has been confirmed that, in cases where the channel error rate during information transmission is less than 5*10^-2, this model can achieve an average reception accuracy of 99.6% for legitimate communicators while ensuring that eavesdroppers cannot decrypt. This approach can also compatible with upper-layer security encryption/decryption algorithms at each layer of the OSI, e.g., data link layer and network layer, offering extensive application prospects.

International Conference on Computing, Communication, Perception and Quantum Technology (CCPQT)•Aug 4, 2023•1 citation

Beyond Traditional Security: A Review on Information-Theoretic Secret Key Generation at Wireless Physical Layer

David Samuel Bhatti, Haeung Choi, Heung-No Lee

In the rapidly evolving landscape of wireless communication, securing transmitted information remains a critical challenge. This study provides a comprehensive review of secret key generation (SKG) techniques designed to secure physical layer wireless communication channels. We focus on key generation methods that exploit physical layer characteristics such as channel state information, received signal strength, and bit error rate. The computational complexity of these techniques is also examined, emphasizing the trade-offs between security and efficiency for real-world implementations. The review identifies open challenges such as developing low-cost, resource-efficient systems, managing artificial noise, and addressing the impact of mobility and multiuser massive MIMO systems on SKG rates. Our findings aim to guide the development of more efficient, scalable SKG methods for next-generation wireless networks. Additionally, we propose a method for securely generating identical secret keys between nodes using Cuckoo filters and a Map-Reduce model for frame hashing, ensuring long-term security in IoT environments.

•Oct 8, 2024•4 citations
Nowadays wireless networks are highly concerned about security. Compared to wireless networks, wired networks are less prone to attacks. The physical layer eavesdropping attack has a significant impact on wireless network security. The use of cryptographic methods at the higher layers of the OSI model is necessary for traditional security in wireless networks. These cryptographic keys can be replaced with key generation at physical layer exploiting the unpredictable channel properties. Current methods for generating wireless keys at the physical layer are examined in this paper. Comprehensive surveys in this regard are conducted of the guiding principles, performance indicators, and key generation process. Techniques for enhancing the effectiveness of key generation are also reviewed. The difficulties of using the strategy in each situation are then discussed, along with key generation applications in diverse situations. The paper ends with several recommendations for future investigations.
Key generation from the randomness of wireless channels is a promising alternative to public key cryptography for the establishment of cryptographic keys between any two users. This paper reviews the current techniques for wireless key generation. The principles, performance metrics and key generation procedure are comprehensively surveyed. Methods for optimizing the performance of key generation are also discussed. Key generation applications in various environments are then introduced along with the challenges of applying the approach in each scenario. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future studies.
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the domain of physical layer security in multiuser wireless networks. The essential premise of physical layer security is to enable the exchange of confidential messages over a wireless medium in the presence of unauthorized eavesdroppers, without relying on higher-layer encryption. This can be achieved primarily in two ways: without the need for a secret key by intelligently designing transmit coding strategies, or by exploiting the wireless communication medium to develop secret keys over public channels. The survey begins with an overview of the foundations dating back to the pioneering work of Shannon and Wyner on information-theoretic security. We then describe the evolution of secure transmission strategies from point-to-point channels to multiple-antenna systems, followed by generalizations to multiuser broadcast, multiple-access, interference, and relay networks. Secret-key generation and establishment protocols based on physical layer mechanisms are subsequently covered. Approaches for secrecy based on channel coding design are then examined, along with a description of inter-disciplinary approaches based on game theory and stochastic geometry. The associated problem of physical layer message authentication is also briefly introduced. The survey concludes with observations on potential research directions in this area.
Wireless networks get subjected to the different attacks because of it's open nature. Eavesdropping attack, which occurs at the Physical layer of the OSI model, has a great impact on wireless network security. Conventional security in wireless networks depends on the cryptographic techniques. But in wireless sensor networks where a key management infrastructure may not be present and the power resources are also limited, generating a cryptographic key between two mobile entities becomes difficult. Hence Physical layer Security (PLS) has become a novel research solution. In PLS based key generation, a symmetric secret key is obtained at both the ends of the legitimate users using the properties of wireless channel. The key generation process includes four major blocks namely channel measurement, quantization of input samples, error detection and correction and privacy amplification. The output of quantizer has a great effect on the bit mismatch rate (BMR) between the two legitimate users. It also has an impact on key generation rate (KGR). Hence selecting a proper quantizer becomes very essential. In this paper different Quantization schemes are analyzed to achieve effective PLS between the two legitimate users.
This chapter provides a survey of physical layer security and key generation methods. This includes mainly an overview of ongoing research in physical layer security in the present and next generation communication networks. Although higher layer security mechanisms and protocols address wireless security challenges in large extent, more security vulnerabilities arise due to the increasingly pervasive existence of wireless communication devices. In this context, the focus of this chapter is mainly on physical layer security. Some security attacks in general are briefly reviewed. Models of physical layer security, information theoretic works, and key generation methods including quantization and reconciliation are discussed. Some latest developments for enhanced security like Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, reconfigurable antennas, and multiple relay systems are also presented. Finally, some existing and emerging application scenarios of physical layer security are discussed.
This paper introduces a novel physical layer secure communication technology based on wireless channel direct encryption to enhance the encryption strength of the information source. Unlike traditional methods of key generation based on the reciprocity of the wireless channel, which typically involve quantizing the wireless channel and then negotiating keys, resulting in two completely identical bit strings generated as encryption keys for upper-level cryptographic algorithms between legitimate communication parties, this paper's approach quantizes the quantized bits of the wireless channel characteristics of both legitimate parties and directly encrypts the information source bits by using a designed lightweight encryption/decryption algorithm. Compared to traditional approaches, this paper's method avoids the key consultation process for physical layer key distribution, expanding the scenarios for the use of physical layer keys. Moreover, it can work independently at the same time with the upper layer cryptography to enhance the encryption strength. Through experimental verification, it has been confirmed that, in cases where the channel error rate during information transmission is less than 5*10^-2, this model can achieve an average reception accuracy of 99.6% for legitimate communicators while ensuring that eavesdroppers cannot decrypt. This approach can also compatible with upper-layer security encryption/decryption algorithms at each layer of the OSI, e.g., data link layer and network layer, offering extensive application prospects.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of wireless communication, securing transmitted information remains a critical challenge. This study provides a comprehensive review of secret key generation (SKG) techniques designed to secure physical layer wireless communication channels. We focus on key generation methods that exploit physical layer characteristics such as channel state information, received signal strength, and bit error rate. The computational complexity of these techniques is also examined, emphasizing the trade-offs between security and efficiency for real-world implementations. The review identifies open challenges such as developing low-cost, resource-efficient systems, managing artificial noise, and addressing the impact of mobility and multiuser massive MIMO systems on SKG rates. Our findings aim to guide the development of more efficient, scalable SKG methods for next-generation wireless networks. Additionally, we propose a method for securely generating identical secret keys between nodes using Cuckoo filters and a Map-Reduce model for frame hashing, ensuring long-term security in IoT environments.