Concurrent Encryption and Authentication for Wireless Networks using Compressed Sensing

Abstract: Authentication and encryption are traditionally treated as two separate processes in wireless networks, this paper integrates user authentication into the process of solving eavesdropping attacks. A compressed sensing (CS)-based framework is proposed which manipulates the measurement matrix of CS to safeguard secure computationally. The framework is also capable of continuous authentication and transmission error correction and is robust to data loss. In detail, this paper first proposes an algorithm to generate a 2D key which depends on the physical property of communication channels. The 2D key is further used to generate authentication information and signal structure as well as encrypt original data. Then an encrypted message which contains both data and authentication information is formed for anonymous transmission. The legal receiver can split authentication information and data, and performing a data loss-robust and transmission error-robust authentication and recovery strategy. The framework is evaluated quantitatively using Monte Carlo simulation with simulated sparse signal. The secure transmission performance and authentication performance as well as data loss robustness are investigated. This framework provides an integrated security solution that efficiently safeguards the confidential, privacy and robust communication in cyber-physical systems, especially in resource-limited and safety-critical wireless networks.