Secure-TWS: Authenticating Node to Multi-user Communication in Shared Sensor Networks

Recent works have shown the usefulness of network and application layer protocols that connect low-power sensor nodes directly to multiple applications and users on the Internet. We propose a security solution for this scenario. While previous works have provided security support for various communication patterns in sensor networks, such as among nodes, from nodes to a base station, and from users to nodes, the security of communication from sensor nodes to multiple users has not been sufficiently addressed. Specifically, we explore this design space and develop a security solution, named Secure Tiny Web Service, for efficient authentication of data sent by a resource-constrained sensor node to multiple users, using digital signatures. We investigate the resource overheads in communication and computation of four suitable signature schemes—the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, the (elliptic curve) Schnorr signature, and the Boneh–Lynn–Shacham and Zhang–Safavi-Naini–Susilo short signature schemes. We implement these schemes on two popular sensor node architectures (based on AVR ATmega128L and MSP430 processors with 802.15.4 radios) and experimentally characterize relevant trade-offs.