GSM Security Using Identity-based Cryptography

Abstract: Current security model in Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) predominantly use symmetric key cryptography. The rapid advancement of Internet technology facilitates online trading, banking, downloading, emailing using resource-constrained handheld devices such as personal digital assistants and cell phones. However, these applications require more security than the present GSM supports. Consequently, a careful design of GSM security using both symmetric and asymmetric key cryptography would make GSM security more adaptable in security intensive applications. This paper presents a secure and efficient protocol for GSM security using identity based cryptography. The salient features of the proposed protocol are (i) authenticated key exchange; (ii) mutual authentication amongst communicating entities; and (iii) user anonymity. The security analysis of the protocol shows its strength against some known threats observed in conventional GSM security.