Secure Data Exchange Research Articles

Application of GNS3 to Study the Security of Data Exchange between Power Electronic Devices and Control Center

This paper proposes the use of the GNS3 IP network modeling platform to study/verify whether the exchanged information between power electronic devices and a control center (Monitoring and Control Centre) is secure. For the purpose of this work, a power distribution unit (PDU) and a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) that are used by internet service providers are studied. Capsa Free network analyzer and Wireshark network protocol analyzer were used as supporting tools. A working model of an IP network in GNS3 has been created through which this research has been carried out. In addition to checking whether the exchanged information is secure, a characterization of the generated traffic has been made, showing results for the generated traffic and which ports generate the most traffic. These carried-outstudies show that the exchanged information is not secure. As a way to secure the exchanged information, the use of VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology is proposed; thanks to a VPN, the exchange of information is secure. The obtained results confirm this and validate the applicability of GNS3 to test/study whether data exchange between power electronic devices and a control center is secure.

Decentralized E-KYC Blockchain Network for Central Bank

Abstract: Know Your Customer or KYC processes are the backbones of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering efforts. KYC processes are mandatory in most of Europe and India. Almost all countries have their own process for identifying and keeping a record of their citizens like the USA has Social Security Protocol. According to current estimates, the amount of KYC spending rose to up to $1.8 Billion in 2021 on a global level. Despite the importance of the process, KYC continues to operate inefficiently. KYC processes are labor-intensive and time-consuming tasks. It is estimated that 80% of KYC efforts go in gathering information and processing while only 20% of efforts are evaluating and monitoring focused. This centralization of data is causing an inefficient KYC process and creating issues like :- Misidentification of fraudulent data , Inability of tracking customers, customers entering fake data(address, age etc) , delayed processing time and very high cost of processing. Reimagining KYC Using Blockchain Technology will enable seamless and secure data exchange at a fraction of the cost. A decentralized blockchain network will Facilitate near real-time data exchange. Blockchain when used with other technologies can indicate great potential to help organizations reduce the cost and time linked with the KYC process. The introduction of blockchain in KYC brings data on a decentralized network which also has its own pros like distributed data collection ,higher operational efficiency , validation of accuracy of the information. The customer will build their profile on the DCT KYC network. There are multiple options to store the data like Centralized encrypted servers, DCT platforms like IPFS(Interplanetary File System). Customers will perform transactions with Financial Institutions by giving them access to users profile( restricted non-appendable access),Using hashing and cryptographic processes the data would safely be called and returned to the DCT network . Thus making sure the whole process is immutable .

LIGHT: Lightweight Authentication for Intra Embedded Integrated Electronic Systems

As embedded integrated electronic systems (EIESs) become more pervasive (including in mission-critical applications), the need to ensure the security of data exchange in such a system against various malicious activities becomes more pronounced. However, designing secure and efficient solutions, such as authentication protocols, for the many different embedded systems with varying internal communication modes remains challenging. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a lightweight authenticated key-exchange (AKE) protocol for EIESs based on half-duplex and “command/response” bus. Specifically, the proposed protocol is designed to operate on resource-constrained devices, as well as having minimal number of interactions. We then prove the security of the proposed protocol and present the security parameter selection strategy for protocol implementation based on the empirical evaluations. Moreover, efficiency analysis also shows that the protocol can be effectively deployed in the EIESs environment.

LACP-SG: Lightweight Authentication Protocol for Smart Grids.

Smart grid (SG) recently acquired considerable attention due to their utilization in sustaining demand response management in power systems. Smart meters (SMs) deployed in SG systems collect and transmit data to the server. Since all communications between SM and the server occur through a public communication channel, the transmitted data are exposed to adversary attacks. Therefore, security and privacy are essential requirements in the SG system for ensuring reliable communication. Additionally, an AuthentiCation (AC) protocol designed for secure communication should be lightweight so it can be applied in a resource-constrained environment. In this article, we devise a lightweight AC protocol for SG named LACP-SG. LACP-SG employs the hash function, "Esch256", and "authenticated encryption" to accomplish the AC phase. The proposed LACP-SG assures secure data exchange between SM and server by validating the authenticity of SM. For encrypted communication, LACP-SG enables SM and the server to establish a session key (SEK). We use the random oracle model to substantiate the security of the established SEK. Moreover, we ascertain that LACP-SG is guarded against different security vulnerabilities through Scyther-based security validation and informal security analysis. Furthermore, comparing LACP-SG with other related AC protocols demonstrates that LACP-SG is less resource-intensive while rendering better security characteristics.

Data Cooperatives as a Catalyst for Collaboration, Data Sharing and the Digital Transformation of the Construction Sector

Digital federated platforms and data cooperatives for secure, trusted and sovereign data exchange will play a central role in the construction industry of the future. With the help of platforms, cooperatives and their novel value creation, the digital transformation and the degree of organization of the construction value chain can be taken to a new level of collaboration. The goal of this research project was to develop an experimental prototype for a federated innovation data platform along with a suitable exemplary use case. The prototype is to serve the construction industry as a demonstrator for further developments and form the basis for an innovation platform. It exemplifies how an overall concept is concretely implemented along one or more use cases that address high-priority industry pain points. This concept will create a blueprint and a framework for further developments, which will then be further established in the market. The research project illuminates the perspective of various governance innovations to increase industry collaboration, productivity and capital project performance and transparency as well as the overall potential of possible platform business models. However, a comprehensive expert survey revealed that there are considerable obstacles to trust-based data exchange between the key stakeholders in the industry value network. The obstacles to cooperation are predominantly not of a technical nature but rather of a competitive, predominantly trust-related nature. To overcome these obstacles and create a pre-competitive space of trust, the authors therefore propose the governance structure of a data cooperative model, which is discussed in detail in this paper.

Optimized Security Algorithms for Intelligent and Autonomous Vehicular Transportation Systems

With the growth of the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) in Intelligent Autonomous Transport Systems (IATS), a huge volume of data is exchanged between vehicles in these newly developed infrastructures. As a result, the requirements of securing data exchange between vehicles, autonomous or otherwise, have also increased tremendously. Securing data transfer and keeping a record of each transaction becomes a necessity in IoV/IATS. In this paper, we propose some optimized security algorithms using symmetric encryption for secure multimedia data transfer between vehicles. The main feature of these optimized algorithms is that they use a lower amount of data to generate fingerprints. The algorithms convert approximately 3.7 x 10⁵ samples of data into 3600 samples to generate the fingerprint. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is used to fetch the highest three peak values of the signal in the frequency domain. A centralized server authenticates the data transfer by comparing the HASH of the fingerprints and also keeps the transaction record. Through experimental analysis, the performance of proposed algorithms is confirmed by achieving reduced size samples to generate fingerprints and their authentication at the server-side.

Cloud computing communication environment security and performance: Challenges and probable solutions

The adoption of cloud computing has continued to grow, owing to its broad network access, remote accessibility, scalability, on demand self-service, rapid elasticity and resource pooling. In this environment, numerous devices are deployed to access the cloud data and services. This potentially increases the attack services, more so in public clouds. As such, the biggest challenge is the secure data exchange over insecure open network channels. This issue has seen the development of numerous security solutions over the recent past. In this paper, a survey of these security schemes, techniques and methods is provided. The findings indicate that majority of these methods have vulnerabilities that expose users to many attacks. Additionally, some of these security solutions have extremely high complexities that make the cloud communications inefficient.

Lightweight Integrity Preserving Scheme for Secure Data Exchange in Cloud-Based IoT Systems

The information obtained from external sources within the cloud and the resulting computations are not always reliable. This is attributed to the absence of tangible regulations and information management on the part of the information owners. Although numerous techniques for safeguarding and securing external information have been developed, security hazards in the cloud are still problematic. This could potentially pose a significant challenge to the effective adoption and utilization of cloud technology. In terms of performance, many of the existing solutions are affected by high computation costs, particularly in terms of auditing. In order to reduce the auditing expenses, this paper proposes a well-organised, lightweight system for safeguarding information through enhanced integrity checking. The proposed technique implements a cryptographic hash function with low-cost mathematic operations. In addition, this paper explores the role of a semi-trusted server with regard to smart device users. This facilitates the formal management of information prior to distribution through the IoT-cloud system. Essentially, this facilitates the validation of the information stored and exchanged in this environment. The results obtained show that the proposed system is lightweight and offers features such as a safeguarding capability, key management, privacy, decreased costs, sufficient security for smart device users, one-time key provision, and high degree of accuracy. In addition, the proposed method exhibits lower computation complexity and storage expenses compared with those of other techniques such as bilinear map-based systems.

Blockchain inspired secure and reliable data exchange architecture for cyber-physical healthcare system 4.0

A cyber-physical system is considered to be a collection of strongly coupled communication systems and devices that poses numerous security trials in various industrial applications including healthcare. The security and privacy of patient data is still a big concern because healthcare data is sensitive and valuable, and it is most targeted over the internet. Moreover, from the industrial perspective, the cyber-physical system plays a crucial role in the exchange of data remotely using sensor nodes in distributed environments. In the healthcare industry, Blockchain technology offers a promising solution to resolve most securities-related issues due to its decentralized, immutability, and transparency properties. In this paper, a blockchain-inspired secure and reliable data exchange architecture is proposed in the cyber-physical healthcare industry 4.0. The proposed system uses the BigchainDB, Tendermint, Inter-Planetary-File-System (IPFS), MongoDB, and AES encryption algorithms to improve Healthcare 4.0. Furthermore, blockchain-enabled secure healthcare architecture for accessing and managing the records between Doctors and Patients is introduced. The development of a blockchain-based Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) exchange system is purely patient-centric, which means the entire control of data is in the owner's hand which is backed by blockchain for security and privacy. Our experimental results reveal that the proposed architecture is robust to handle more security attacks and can recover the data if 2/3 of nodes are failed. The proposed model is patient-centric, and control of data is in the patient's hand to enhance security and privacy, even system administrators can't access data without user permission.

Optimal Day-ahead Dynamic Pricing of Grid-connected Residential Renewable Energy Resources Under Different Metering Mechanisms

Nowadays, grid-connected renewable energy resources have widespread applications in the electricity market. However, providing household consumers with photovoltaic (PV) systems requires bilateral interfaces to exchange energy and data. In addition, residential consumers' contribution requires guaranteed privacy and secured data exchange. Day-ahead dynamic pricing is one of the incentive-based demand response methods that has substantial effects on the integration of renewable energy resources with smart grids and social welfare. Different metering mechanisms of renewable energy resources such as feed-in tariffs, net metering, and net purchase and sale are important issues in power grid operation planning. In this paper, optimal condition decomposition method is used for day-ahead dynamic pricing of grid-connected residential renewable energy resources under different metering mechanisms: feed-in-tariffs, net metering, and net purchase and sale in conjunction with carbon emission taxes. According to the stochastic nature of consumers' load and PV system products, uncertainties are considered in a two-stage decision-making process. The results demonstrate that the net metering with the satisfaction average of 68% for consumers and 32% for the investigated electric company leads to 28% total load reduction. For the case of net purchase and sale mechanism, a satisfaction average of 15% for consumers and 85% for the electric company results in 11% total load reduction. In feed-in-tariff mechanism, in spite of increased social welfare, load reduction does not take place.

The role of spatial cyberinfrastructure in geoinformation systems

The potential future of a spatial cyberinfrastructure is considered, combining advanced computer, information and communication technologies to expand the possibilities of computational and information scientific practice and improve the synthesis and analysis of scientific data through collaboration and sharing. Currently, spatial cyberinfrastructure represents a paradigm shift in scientific research that has facilitated easy access to computational utilities and facilitated collaboration across distances and disciplines, thereby enabling scientific breakthroughs to be achieved faster and more efficiently. Spatial cyberinfrastructure seeks to address the long-standing complex problems of processing and analyzing massive and heterogeneous spatial datasets, as well as the need and benefits of flexible and secure spatial data exchange. The focus is on spatial analysis using distributed and high performance computing, sensor networks and other advanced information technology capabilities to transform massive spatial datasets into information and knowledge. To solve large-scale and multi-scale problems, the spatial cyberinfrastructure, despite the complexity of the geographic space, allows transforming spatial analysis into powerful and affordable computing utilities to provide broad scientific breakthroughs when creating the well-known Digital Earth project. Critical analysis and recommendations are provided on issues of conflicting data that researchers do not want to exclude from various data models and geographic scales. This case study shows the value of spatial cyberinfrastructure in addressing the challenges that arise from spatial as well as multilingual, biographical and temporal ambiguities in various databases, solutions that, again, would not be possible without spatial cyberinfrastructure.

Distributed Detection Over Blockchain-Aided Internet of Things in the Presence of Attacks

Distributed detection over a blockchain-aided Internet of Things (BIoT) network in the presence of attacks is considered, where the integrated blockchain is employed to secure data exchanges over the BIoT as well as data storage at the agents of the BIoT. We consider a general adversary model where attackers jointly exploit the vulnerability of IoT devices and that of the blockchain employed in the BIoT. The optimal attacking strategy which minimizes the Kullback-Leibler divergence is pursued. It can be shown that this optimization problem is nonconvex, and hence it is generally intractable to find the globally optimal solution to such a problem. To overcome this issue, we first propose a relaxation method that can convert the original nonconvex optimization problem into a convex optimization problem, and then the analytic expression for the optimal solution to the relaxed convex optimization problem is derived. The optimal value of the relaxed convex optimization problem provides a detection performance guarantee for the BIoT in the presence of attacks. In addition, we develop a coordinate descent algorithm which is based on a capped water-filling method to solve the relaxed convex optimization problem, and moreover, we show that the convergence of the proposed coordinate descent algorithm can be guaranteed.

BSDCE-IoV: Blockchain-Based Secure Data Collection and Exchange Scheme for IoV in 5G Environment

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is a network that connects vehicles and their environment: in-built devices, pedestrians, and infrastructure through the Internet using heterogeneous access technologies. During communication between vehicles, roadside units, and control rooms, data confidentiality and privacy are critical issues that require effective measures. Several works have been proposed for securing IoV environments based on vehicles-to-infrastructure authentication; However, some schemes have security vulnerabilities, while others have shown efficiency issues. Due to its decentralization, stability, and transaction tracking capabilities, Blockchain as an emerging technology presents a potential solution for IoV security. This article provides an in-depth examination of the benefits of blockchain for a 5G-based IoV environment. In particular, we propose and evaluate a novel blockchain-based secure data exchange (BSDCE-IoV) scheme based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography algorithm. Our solution is designed to eliminate several potential attacks that pose a threat to the IoV environment. Deep examination using the Real-or-Random oracle model and Scyther tool, in addition to the informal security analysis, validates the scheme regarding security and privacy. The Multi-precision Integer and Rational Arithmetic Cryptographic Library (MIRACL) assesses the computational and communication overhead. Computational and communicative overheads were also evaluated using the Multi-precision Integer and Rational Arithmetic Cryptographic Library (MIRACL). BSDCE-IoV shows higher performance in terms of security, functionality, and time delay than a number of recent selective work in IoV security.

NFC-Powered Implantable Device for On-Body Parameters Monitoring With Secure Data Exchange Link to a Medical Blockchain Type of Network.

Implantable devices represent the future of remote medical monitoring and administration of both chemical and physical therapies to the patients. Although some of these devices are already in the market, the security mechanisms deployed inside them to withstand deliberate external influence are still decades away from the robust digital data security schemes employed in modern distributed networks these days. Medical data theft, spoofing, and disclosure pose serious threats that can ultimately lead to individual and social stigmas or even death. In this article, we present a small-form and batteryless implantable device with acquisition channels for biopotential (30-dB gain and 16-Hz bandwidth), arterial pulse oximetry, and temperature (0.12°C accuracy) recordings, suitable for cardiovascular, neuronal, and endocrine parameters assessment. The proposed device is powered by the near-field communication (NFC) interface with an external mobile phone, with a power consumption of 0.9 mW and achieving the full operation for distances close to 1 cm under the skin. In situ encryption of the acquired physiological signals is performed by a lightweight and short-term symmetric-key distribution scheme with data stream hopping, in order to ensure secure data transference over the air between the patient and trusted entities only, complemented by data storage, processing, and recovery through a medical blockchain type of network that involves the main stakeholders inside a medical community.

Cryptanalysis of 2D-SCMCI Hyperchaotic Map Based Image Encryption Algorithm

Chaos-based cryptosystems are considered a secure mode of communication due to their reliability. Chaotic maps are associated with the other domains to construct robust encryption algorithms. There exist numerous encryption schemes in the literature based on chaotic maps. This work aims to propose an attack on a recently proposed hyper-chaotic map-based cryptosystem. The core notion of the original algorithm was based on permutation and diffusion. A bit-level permutation approach was used to do the permutation row-and column-wise. The diffusion was executed in the forward and backward directions. The statistical strength of the cryptosystem has been demonstrated by extensive testing conducted by the author of the cryptosystem. This cryptanalysis article investigates the robustness of this cryptosystem against a chosen-plaintext attack. The secret keys of the cryptosystem were retrieved by the proposed attack with 258 chosen-plain images. The results in this manuscript suggest that, in addition to standard statistical evaluations, thorough cryptanalysis of each newly suggested cryptosystem is necessary before it can be used in practical application. Moreover, the data retrieved is also passed through some statistical analysis to compare the quality of the original and retrieved data. The results of the performance analysis indicate the exact recovery of the original data. To make the cryptosystem useful for applications requiring secure data exchange, a few further improvement recommendations are also suggested.

Research on Personal Information Security Protection Measures in the Big Data Era

While big data brings convenience to people, it also exposes various problems. Personal information is always exposed to risks. Protecting personal information from infringement in the big data era has become an urgent problem to be solved. This paper studies from three aspects. First, it analyzes the importance of personal information security protection in the big dataera: maintaining normal social production and life order, protecting personal physical and mental health and property safety, and reducing the occurrence of cyber crimes. Second, it summarizes the problems existing in personal information security protection in the big data era: serious disclosure of personal privacy information, malicious attacks on personal privacy by cyber hackers, low awareness of personal information security protection, and imperfect laws and regulations on personal information security protection. Third, the main measures of personal information security protection in the big data eraare put forward: improving the laws and regulations of personal information protection, raising the awareness of personal information security protection, building a data-centric security governance system, and strengthening the prevention and governance of cyber hacking attacks.

MetaHealth – How Metavers will transform healthcare?

Abstract: We live in a digital age, and Pandemic has accelerated the development of new health care products and introduced new business models and health opportunities. In addition to tele-medicine, supply chain, payment, secure data exchange, and remote monitoring applications, there and they are the latest innovations in blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that enable the exchange of value on fragmented networks. Futurists and technology experts are also exploring how Metaverse can play a role in various fields. This Commentary aims to explore how Metaverse can be used in the future to transform, improve, and possibly transform health care. The following areas covered are teamwork, education, clinical care, wellness, and monetization.

REGISTRATION OF DRONES THROUGH BLOCKCHAINS

This paper explores the potential use of blockchain technology to register drones. Using blockchain, a unique and tamper-proof identifier can be assigned to each drone, enabling real-time tracking, secure data exchange, and improved compliance with regulations and laws. This paper argues that integrating blockchain into drone registration can increase security, transparency, and efficiency.

Secure Data Sharing in IoT Networks using Blockchain and Machine Learning

The burgeoning proliferation of IoT networks has underscored the pressing need for robust and secure data sharing mechanisms. The existing methods for data sharing in IoT networks exhibit certain limitations, notably in terms of energy efficiency, speed, throughput, packet delivery ratio, and overall consistency. These limitations have sparked the demand for innovative solutions that can mitigate these issues effectively. To address these limitations, the paper proposes an advanced model that harnesses the power of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based Smart Contracts, fortified with Genetic Algorithm optimized Sidechains, within the blockchain framework. This integration synergizes the strengths of blockchain technology and machine learning, offering a robust foundation for secure data sharing in IoT networks. The advantages of this approach are manifold. By leveraging AHP and Smart Contracts, the model ensures the precision and reliability of data transactions. The incorporation of Genetic Algorithm optimized Sidechains optimizes the scalability and efficiency of the system. Consequently, the proposed model exhibits a remarkable 4.9% improvement in energy efficiency, a 5.5% boost in speed, an 8.3% increase in throughput, an 8.5% enhancement in packet delivery ratio, and a 3.9% better consistency compared to existing methods. The impacts of this work are profound. It not only addresses the current limitations of IoT data sharing but also paves the way for more efficient, secure, and reliable data exchange in IoT networks. This innovation holds the potential to revolutionize the IoT landscape, offering a robust solution that can unlock new possibilities for a wide range of applications, from smart cities to industrial automation sets.

Development of portable diagnostic devices for early detection of zoonotic diseases: A one health approach

The integration of blockchain technology in biomedical diagnostics offers a promising solution to the challenges of data security and privacy in infectious disease surveillance. As the digitalization of healthcare systems accelerates, the need to protect sensitive health information becomes increasingly critical. Blockchain, with its decentralized and immutable nature, provides a robust framework for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of biomedical data. This abstract explores how blockchain technology can be leveraged to enhance data security and privacy in the context of infectious disease surveillance, where rapid and accurate data sharing is essential for effective public health responses. Infectious disease surveillance relies on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of large volumes of data, often shared across multiple institutions and geographical regions. Traditional systems for managing this data are vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, and data tampering, which can compromise public health efforts and patient privacy. Blockchain technology addresses these vulnerabilities by enabling secure, transparent, and tamper-proof data exchanges. Each transaction or data entry is recorded in a distributed ledger, accessible only to authorized participants, thus ensuring that the data remains secure and unaltered. Moreover, blockchain’s inherent transparency allows for real-time monitoring and auditing of data flows, which is crucial in the timely detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks. The use of smart contracts within blockchain networks further enhances the automation and efficiency of data management, ensuring that data is only accessed and shared according to predefined rules and conditions. This not only safeguards patient privacy but also builds trust among stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, and public health authorities. In conclusion, the integration of blockchain technology in biomedical diagnostics presents a transformative approach to addressing the critical issues of data security and privacy in infectious disease surveillance. By leveraging blockchain's unique features, healthcare systems can ensure that sensitive diagnostic data is protected, thus supporting more effective and secure public health interventions in the fight against infectious diseases. Keywords: One Health Approach, Zoonotic Disease, Early Detection, Development, Portable Diagnostic Device.