An encryption system for securing physical signals

Yisroel Mirsky, Benjamin Fedidat, Yoram Haddad

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Secure communication is a necessity. However, encryption is commonly only applied to the upper layers of the protocol stack. This exposes network information to eavesdroppers, including the channel’s type, data rate, protocol, and routing information. This may be solved by encrypting the physical layer, thereby securing all subsequent layers. In order for this method to be practical, the encryption must be quick, preserve bandwidth, and must also deal with the issues of noise mitigation and synchronization. In this paper, we present the Vernam Physical Signal Cipher (VPSC): a novel cipher which can encrypt the harmonic composition of any analog waveform. The VPSC accomplishes this by applying a modified Vernam cipher to the signal’s frequency magnitudes and phases. This approach is fast and preserves the signal’s bandwidth. In the paper, we offer methods for noise mitigation and synchronization, and evaluate the VPSC over a noisy wireless channel with multi-path propagation interference.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSecurity and Privacy in Communication Networks - 16th EAI International Conference, SecureComm 2020, Proceedings
EditorsNoseong Park, Kun Sun, Sara Foresti, Kevin Butler, Nitesh Saxena
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages211-232
Number of pages22
ISBN (Print)9783030630850
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2020
Event16th International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks, SecureComm 2020 - Washington, United States
Duration: 21 Oct 202023 Oct 2020

Publication series

NameLecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST
Volume335
ISSN (Print)1867-8211

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Security and Privacy in Communication Networks, SecureComm 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period21/10/2023/10/20

Keywords

  • FFT
  • Harmonic encryption
  • Physical channel security
  • Signal encryption
  • Vernam Cipher
  • Waveforms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications

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