Researchers from the UOC and IP Paris has designed an innovative system to guarantee the integrity, source and security of data coming from Internet of Things (IoT) networks This method, called ZIRCON, is applicable to most network environments, as it has minimal computing capacity requirements and low energy demands The IoT involves numerous risks, including data management, data vulnerability and lack of computing capacity
uoc.edu, Nov. 29, 2024 –
The progress of new technologies has allowed many of the devices and appliances in homes, offices, industries and streets to be connected to the network through the Internet of Things (IoT), improving and streamlining processes, jobs and even people's quality of life. However, this massive connection of everyday objects can lead to numerous risks, especially when processing personal data, sensitive data or the information handled by these systems.
Now, a team of experts, led by researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris), has designed a system to guarantee the integrity, origin and security of data coming from IoT networks, especially in areas where connected devices have limited computing and storage resources.
"We've developed a system of zero-watermarking approach, which does not modify the original data but can incorporate information about their source, ensuring tamper-proof transmission over the network", said Omair Faraj, lead author of this study and PhD with the Network and Information Technologies programme at both the UOC and Télécom SudParis of IP Paris, working with the K-ryptography and Information Security for Open Networks (KISON) research group, together with Professor David Megías, KISON lead researcher and director of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), and Professor Joaquín García Alfaro, full professor and researcher at Télécom SudParis, both co-authors of this study.
This innovative method, designed to guarantee data integrity and secure provenance in environments where the Internet of Things is used, is called ZIRCON (Zero-watermarkIng-based data pRovenanCe for iOt Networks). "ZIRCON uses a zero-watermarking technique without amendment to the data itself, in which a unique watermark is generated from the metadata - similar to the IP address of a device - but without embedding this watermark directly in the original data", said Faraj. In this way, thanks to the use of this system, the watermark is stored separately in a network database that is tamper-proof and resilient against unwanted external interference.