Using Blockchains to Strengthen the Security of Internet of Things

Abstract

Abstract. Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that became popular as the foundational block of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Over the past few years it has seen a rapid growth, both in terms of research and commercial usage. Due to its decentralized nature and its inherent use of cryptography, Blockchain provides an elegant solution to the Byzantine Generals Problem and is thus a good candidate for use in areas that require a decentralized consensus among untrusted peers, eliminating the need for a central authority. Internet of Things is a technology paradigm where a multitude of small devices, including sensors, actuators and RFID tags, are interconnected via a common communications medium to enable a whole new range of tasks and applications. However, existing IoT installations are often vulnerable and prone to security and privacy concerns. This paper studies the use of Blockchain to strengthen the security of IoT networks through a resilient, decentralized mechanism for the connected home that enhances the network self-defense by safeguarding critical security-related data. This mechanism is developed as part of the Safe-Guarding Home IoT Environments with Personalised Real-time Risk Control (GHOST) project.

Decentralized Approach to Secure IoT based Networks using Blockchain Technology

“…IoT mainly operates on three layered structure according to many researchers (Hammi, et al, 2018). The IoT layers include Perception Layer, Network Layer, and Application Layer (Kouzinopoulos, et al, 2018).…”

“…The solution we are proposing have to support the security of that type of network dealing with thousands of nodes and billions of devices, privacy is also be equally entertained, additionally, the consensus among network participants are required to deal with data theft and spoofing (Antonopoulos, 2014). To achieve the characteristics and functionalities of seasoned IoT systems without a single point failure and centralized control, P2P messaging, distributed environment and automated coordination among devices are required (Kouzinopoulos, et al, 2018).…”

“…Using this solution system will be available to the network most of the time (Banerjee, et al, 2018). "Therefore, a cost and operationally efficient way of providing over-the-air updates and patching to IoT devices and sensors would greatly benefit the industry as a whole" (Kouzinopoulos, et al, 2018).…”

Blockchain-enhanced Roots-of-Trust

“…Since the information is open and tamper-resistant, the system is trustless since any unauthorized or unexpected modifications, at the time of submission, are visible to every participant. Applications to IoT and trusted execution are thus immediate [8] and they include enhanced security, privacy and identity [10], verification of the supply chain [8], distribution of firmware updates (taking advantage of both assurances of integrity and distributed topology of nodes) [11] [12] or enhancing trust in Industrial IoT [12] or coordinating business workflows as in electricity co-generation [14].…”

Performance evaluation of blockchains in the internet of things

“…The BT in IoT is a novel technology that acts with decentralized, distributed, public and real-time ledger to store transactions among IoT nodes [7]. A blockchain is a series of blocks, each block is linked to its previous blocks [8]. Every block has a cryptographic hash code, previous block hash, and its data.…”