Secure Transfer Of Information Research Articles

Blockchain and the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation: A Chance to Harmonize International Data Flows

Future economic growth is dependent on global data sharing. With the EU’s GDPR going into effect May 25, 2018, data privacy law in the EU will be uniform in text. The GDPR applies extraterritorially to any organization that can reach the EU market in terms of access by an EU citizen. While a consistent and coordinated interpretation of the GDPR provides organizations with the requisite assurances needed when operating in an international environment, stricter standards and higher fines require the organizations to rethink their international privacy compliance protocols. Trust-failures in society are the driving force behind such comprehensive regulatory frameworks, but emerging technology like blockchain can aid in minimizing these privacy concerns. Among other things, blockchain properties include decentralization, authentication, confidentiality, accountability, and access control management. By treating data flows as transactions, blockchain applications can work with regulations to facilitate the secure transfer of information. The purpose of this paper is to begin a conversation around utilizing blockchain technology and reducing harmonizing regulations like the GDPR to an automated protocol.

ICT supporting clinicians and patients – the key facilitator of integrated care

An introduction: (comprising context and problem statement) The community intervention team (CIT) required an ICT solution to support nurses treating patients in the community. There was no ICT connectivity between the hospital, the CIT and GPs. Short description of practice change implemented: An ICT solution was developed and implemented in house that ensured the CIT service had up-to-date accurate patient information delivered efficiently. Software installed on secure electronic devices, allows the nurse real time access to a patient’s summary record, and facilitates the recording of visit details while with the patient. Aim and theory of change: The aim was to support nursing teams in the community, and improve real-time communications between the hospital, CIT, GP and public health nurses (PHNs). Targeted population and stakeholders: The target population is a 480,278 catchment area covered by the CIT. Stakeholders include HSE management, hospital consultants, Directors of nursing, bed planners, discharge managers, PHN’s, GP’s and primary care teams (PCTs). Timeline: The development of the ICT platform was completed in conjunction with the implementation of the CIT service. An iterative approach was taken to the development of the software and configuration is enhanced when warranted through feedback provided by users. Highlights: (innovation, Impact and outcomes) Continuity of care is a central aspect for the CIT. Improved real-time communications underpinned by ICT now exist between all the stakeholders involved in the patient’s care. The CIT ICT platform is linked to GP surgeries, acute hospitals, out-of-hours service and public health nursing to facilitate the seamless and efficient flow of information. The Hospital can refer a CIT patient through a secure weblink form connecting the HSE network to the CIT network, while the GP can generate an electronic referral through their in house software using the National referral template, via the national messaging system, Healthlink. On discharge from the CIT, an electronically generated summary is sent to the GP, the hospital or the public health nurse (PHN) as appropriate. Comments on sustainability and transferability: The ICT platform is built on the core principle that it is scalable to increase capacity as required as well as facilitating interoperability and configurability as the service develops. Conclusions and Discussion: (comprising key findings) Productivity of the nurses is optimised as there in no unnecessary travel to the CIT hub to gather patient information. Response times to patients are improved as patients can be allocated to nurses based on their location. The ICT platform has operated successfully for over five years and has provided invaluable electronic links between all the consulting clinicians involved in a patient’s episode of care. The collaborative approach has ensured that the service is patient centred and the information reaches the right person at the right time. Existing record systems are undisturbed, but updated immediately. Lessons learned: ICT is a key building block to integrated care as it supports the clinician and the patient by facilitating the seamless secure transfer of information. In-house design has enabled local harmonisation.

The Effect of Spatial Interference Correlation and Jamming on Secrecy in Cellular Networks

Recent studies on secure wireless communication have shed light on a scenario where interference has a desirable impact on network performance. Particularly, assuming independent interference power fluctuations at the eavesdropper and the receiver, opportunistic secure information transfer can occur on the legitimate link. However, interference is spatially correlated due to the common set of interfering sources, which may diminish the opportunistic secure spectrum access (OSSA) probability. We study and quantify the effect of spatial interference correlation on OSSA in cellular-networks and investigate the potential of full-duplex jamming (FDJ) solutions. The results highlight the scenarios where FDJ improves OSSA performance.

An Effective Lightweight Key Management (ELWKM) Model for Wireless Sensor Networks using Distributed Spanning Tree Structure

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are resource-constrained and frequently deployed in potentially adverse surroundings and so the security issues in these networks are serious concern. There are a number of security issues in the WSNs and the one that overwhelmingly studied and attracted the researcher in the recent years is the key management issues of network. Though researchers have proposed various key management schemes to enhance the secure information transfer, the existing works lack in the tradeoff between its efficiency and the cost in terms of the factors like structure formulation, energy utilization and key storage overheads. In this perspective, an effective Lightweight Key Management Model (LKMM) for WSNs has been proposed using the Distributed Spanning Tree (DST). In this model, the WSN is virtually structured into Distributed Spanning Tree Structure (DSTs) and a lightweight key exchange model is included in the structure. The simulation results justify the merits of the proposed Effective Lightweight Key Management Model (ELWKM) in terms of computation time, energy consumption, energy utilization percentage, number of unique keys, key storage overheads and message to key ratio.

Compact Coding Using Multi-Photon Tolerant Quantum Protocols For Quantum Communication

This paper presents a new encryption scheme called Compact Coding that encodes information in time, phase, and intensity domains, simultaneously. While these approaches have previously been used one at a time, the proposed scheme brings to bear for the first time their strengths simultaneously leading to an increase in the secure information transfer rate. The proposed scheme is applicable to both optical fibers and free space optics, and can be considered as an alternative to polarization coding. This paper applies the proposed compact coding scheme to multi-photon tolerant quantum protocols in order to produce quantum-level security during information transfer. We present the structure of the proposed coding scheme in a multi-photon environment and address its operation.

Multiobjective Resource Allocation for Secure Communication in Cognitive Radio Networks With Wireless Information and Power Transfer

In this paper, we study resource allocation for multiuser multiple-input–single-output secondary communication systems with multiple system design objectives. We consider cognitive radio (CR) networks where the secondary receivers are able to harvest energy from the radio frequency when they are idle. The secondary system provides simultaneous wireless power and secure information transfer to the secondary receivers. We propose a multiobjective optimization framework for the design of a Pareto-optimal resource allocation algorithm based on the weighted Tchebycheff approach. In particular, the algorithm design incorporates three important system design objectives: total transmit power minimization, energy harvesting efficiency maximization, and interference-power-leakage-to-transmit-power ratio minimization. The proposed framework takes into account a quality-of-service (QoS) requirement regarding communication secrecy in the secondary system and the imperfection of the channel state information (CSI) of potential eavesdroppers (idle secondary receivers and primary receivers) at the secondary transmitter. The proposed framework includes total harvested power maximization and interference power leakage minimization as special cases. The adopted multiobjective optimization problem is nonconvex and is recast as a convex optimization problem via semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation. It is shown that the global optimal solution of the original problem can be constructed by exploiting both the primal and the dual optimal solutions of the SDP-relaxed problem. Moreover, two suboptimal resource allocation schemes for the case when the solution of the dual problem is unavailable for constructing the optimal solution are proposed. Numerical results not only demonstrate the close-to-optimal performance of the proposed suboptimal schemes but unveil an interesting tradeoff among the considered conflicting system design objectives as well.

Dynamic spectrum access enabled home area networks for smart grid communications

In this paper, we investigate the dynamic spectrum access for home area network in smart grid communications where home appliances access RF spectrum opportunistically. We evaluate the proposed approach through simulations and the numerical results show that the proposed dynamic spectrum access-based smart grid communication outperforms the static spectrum access-based smart grid communications. Smart grid is the transformation of current power grid system through the integration of advanced information technology and communication technology with power system grid. The choice of communication technology for smart grid is highly critical to provide secure, reliable and efficient information transfer between the smart grid components. However, because of dynamic topology changes, connectivity problems, interference and fading issues, and delay requirements, current information and communication infrastructures and standards are incapable of meeting the strict requirements of smart grid technology. The dynamic spectrum access capability of cognitive radio networks is a promising technology that can be used to reduce the communication expenses and improve reliability by improving spectrum utilisation in smart grids.

Secure and Green SWIPT in Distributed Antenna Networks With Limited Backhaul Capacity

This paper studies the resource allocation algorithm design for secure information and renewable green energy transfer to mobile receivers in distributed antenna communication systems. In particular, distributed remote radio heads (RRHs/antennas) are connected to a central processor (CP) via capacity-limited backhaul links to facilitate joint transmission. The RRHs and the CP are equipped with renewable energy harvesters and share their energies via a lossy micropower grid for improving the efficiency in conveying information and green energy to mobile receivers via radio frequency signals. The considered resource allocation algorithm design is formulated as a mixed nonconvex and combinatorial optimization problem taking into account the limited backhaul capacity and the quality-of-service requirements for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT). We aim at minimizing the total network transmit power when only imperfect channel state information of the wireless energy harvesting receivers, which have to be powered by the wireless network, is available at the CP. In light of the intractability of the problem, we reformulate it as an optimization problem with binary selection, which facilitates the design of an iterative resource allocation algorithm to solve the problem optimally using the generalized Bender's decomposition (GBD). Furthermore, a suboptimal algorithm is proposed to strike a balance between computational complexity and system performance. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed GBD-based algorithm obtains the global optimal solution and the suboptimal algorithm achieves a close-to-optimal performance. In addition, the distributed antenna network for SWIPT with renewable energy sharing is shown to require a lower transmit power compared with a traditional system with multiple colocated antennas.

Light weight security protocol for communications in vehicular networks

Increasing demand in user-friendly, computationally efficient and sophisticated vehicles led automobile industries to manufacture them with efficient onboard sensors, communication devices, resource rich hardware. Vehicular resources provide infotainment on-the-go. In mere future, every vehicle is a resource full machine. The vehicular resources which include computing power, storage and internet connectivity can be shared among the vehicles or can be lend over the internet to various customers. Vehicles can comprehensively make use of the resources available with road-side units (RSU's) to communicate with other vehicles and RSU's. Vehicular communications are useful especially in situations of accidents (or) natural calamities. Vehicles can update the RSU's with information regarding such events. This information can then be broadcasted to the vehicles in that area or path. The proposed scheme ensures secure and efficient communications among nodes in a hierarchy consisting of vehicles, RSU's, RSU co-ordinators and Trusted authority. The approach outlined in the paper can be used to decrease the overhead involved in secure transfer of information during communication.

Cooperative Spectrum Access Towards Secure Information Transfer for CRNs

In cognitive radio networks (CRNs), secure information transfer is of paramount importance for primary users (PUs), while secondary users (SUs) mainly desire to ease the starvation for transmission opportunities. To meet such different requirements, cooperation between PUs and SUs can be leveraged and therefore create a win-win situation. In this paper, we investigate cooperative spectrum access for CRNs, which targets to improve the secure transmission of PUs via cooperating SUs that would be incented by certain transmission opportunities. Two types of cooperation schemes are proposed, whereby the PU either cooperates with two individual SUs or a cluster of SUs, which are referred to as relay-jammer (R-J) scheme and cluster-beamforming (C-B) scheme, respectively. In R-J scheme, two individual SUs act as a relay and a friendly jammer to improve the PU's secrecy; In return, the PU allocates a fraction of access time for the SUs' transmission. To achieve the maximum secrecy rate, joint time and power allocation is considered. Particularly, the cooperating relay and jammer determine the optimal transmission power, while the PU decides the optimal time allocation strategy. In C-B scheme, the PU cooperates with a cluster of SUs to enhance the secrecy of the primary link via collaborative beamforming, where three different approaches are proposed for the scenarios with one eavesdropper, with multiple eavesdroppers, and without eavesdroppers' information, respectively. To maximize the secrecy rate, the weight selection and time allocation are also studied. Simulation results are given to validate the proposed schemes and demonstrate that the PU can significantly enhance the secrecy through cooperation.

Quantum key distribution session with 16-dimensional photonic states

The secure transfer of information is an important problem in modern telecommunications. Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides a solution to this problem by using individual quantum systems to generate correlated bits between remote parties, that can be used to extract a secret key. QKD with D-dimensional quantum channels provides security advantages that grow with increasing D. However, the vast majority of QKD implementations has been restricted to two dimensions. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using higher dimensions for real-world quantum cryptography by performing, for the first time, a fully automated QKD session based on the BB84 protocol with 16-dimensional quantum states. Information is encoded in the single-photon transverse momentum and the required states are dynamically generated with programmable spatial light modulators. Our setup paves the way for future developments in the field of experimental high-dimensional QKD.

Secure information transfer based on computing reservoir

Abstract There is a broad area of research to ensure that information is transmitted securely. Within this scope, chaos-based cryptography takes a prominent role due to its nonlinear properties. Using these properties, we propose a secure mechanism for transmitting data that relies on chaotic networks. We use a nonlinear on–off device to cipher the message, and the transfer entropy to retrieve it. We analyze the system capability for sending messages, and we obtain expressions for the operating time. We demonstrate the system efficiency for a wide range of parameters. We find similarities between our method and the reservoir computing.

Hiding the hidden message: approaches to textual steganography

Textual steganography is a means of concealing an encoded message within text. The appeal in such a system is its potential for hiding the fact that encoding is taking place. The failure to hide the presence of encoding is a form of information leakage and an inherent risk since it suggests that there is important or valuable information in transit. This is considered a major limitation of existing cryptographic techniques as applied to secure information transfer. In this paper, we describe an experimental system that we have developed as a test bed for textual steganography. This system allows us to explore the application of part of speech tagging, word sense disambiguation and synonym replacement as component strategies for textual steganography.

The Constitutional Limits to Security at UN and EU Level

Targeted or “smart” sanctions directed against named individuals – such as those established by Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999) in the fight against al-Qaeda – have evolved into a mainstay of the United Nations’ (UN) collective security system, particularly in the fight against terrorism. With the Kadi appeal judgment, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), overruling the Kadi and Yusuf/Al Barakaat case-law of the European Court of First Instance (CFI), has defined the relation between EU and UN law in a classic dualistic way which is usually charactistic of nation-states. The Court also sent a message to the UN, proposing a secure transfer of information as a solution for the lack of effective human rights in the UN sanctions regime. However, it is questionable whether this could sufficiently replace an independent review system at the UN level.

Quantum Entanglement in Optical Fiber

Quantum entanglement is perhaps one of the deepest mysteries of quantum mechanics. Today, entangled states are part of our state-of-the-art communication systems, offering a more secure transfer of information.

Donors whose blood reacts falsely positive in transfusion microbiology screening assays need not be lost to transfusion

Donations that repeatedly react in transfusion microbiology screening assays are usually discarded; with appropriate confirmatory testing on the index and on follow-up samples, the great majority of these can be shown to be falsely positive. Under carefully controlled conditions, with secure information transfer, these donations, although still reactive in the primary screening assays, can be made available for clinical use after testing and obtaining negative results with alternative assays from a list of assays evaluated as suitable for the release of blood donations. We will describe a generic algorithm that can be applied to all markers.

Quantum superarrivals and information transfer through a time-varying boundary

The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is solved numerically for the case of a Gaussian wave packet incident on a time-varying potential barrier. The time evolving reflection and transmission probabilities of the wave packet are computed for several different time-dependent boundary conditions obtained by reducing or increasing the height of the potential barrier. We show that in the case when the barrier height is reduced to zero, a time interval is found during which the reflection probability is larger (superarrivals) compared to the unperturbed case. We further show that the transmission probability exhibits superarrivals when the barrier is raised from zero to a finite value of its height. Superarrivals could be understood by ascribing the features of a real physical field to the Schrodinger wave function which acts as a carrier through which a disturbance, resulting from the boundary condition being perturbed, prpagates from the barrier to the detectors measuring reflected and transmitted probabilities. The speed of propagation of this effect depends upon the rate of reducing or raising the barrier height, thus suggesting an application for secure information transfer using superarrivals.

Single Photons "on Demand"

Quantum cryptography offers the potential of totally secure transfer of information, but as Benjamin discusses in this Perspective, its practical implementation hinges on being able to generate single photons (rather than two or more) at a time. Michler et al. show how this condition can be met in a quantum dot microdisk structure. Single molecules were also recently shown to allow controlled single-photon emission.

The TOLIMAC project: access control, charging and payment of electronic information resources by means of smart cards

TOLIMAC is a research project funded by the Telematics for Libraries Programme of the EU and is developing a system to provide controlled access to, and management of, networked information resources and other services in a library environment. The system is based on smart cards and encryption technology integrating management functionalities ‐such as user identification, remote access control, electronic payment‐, and security requirements ‐such as secure information transfer and financial transactions, document integrity. The system also enables libraries to adjust user access rights, and charges for available electronic resources, whether local or remote, according to user categories. The system is based on standards. It has a Web interface. The pilot system will provide users from three university libraries with access to an electronic document delivery service based at INIST (France), including search, order and delivery of journal articles, as well as payment facilities by means of the electronic purse on the user's smart card.

Quantum information processing: cryptography, computation, and teleportation

Present information technology is based on the laws of classical physics. However, advances in quantum physics have stimulated interest in its potential impact on such technology. This article is an introductory review of three aspects of quantum information processing, cryptography, computation, and teleportation. The author serves up hors d'oeuvres on the relevant parts of quantum physics and the sorts of quantum systems which might form the building blocks for quantum processors. Quantum cryptography utilizes states of individual quantum systems for the transfer of conventional classical bits of information. The impossibility of measuring quantum systems without disturbing them guarantees the detection of eavesdropping and hence secure information transfer is possible. In a sense, teleportation is the inverse of cryptography, using more robust classical bits to faithfully transfer a quantum state through a noisy environment. Quantum computation utilizes the evolving quantum state of a complex system, which consists of many interacting individuals. If such a machine could be built, it would be capable of solving some problems which are intractable on any conventional computer; he illustrates this with Shor's (see Proc. 35th IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, p.124, 1994) quantum factoring algorithm. Details are given of the current experimental achievements, proposals, and prospects for the future and of the patents granted to date.