Securing Wireless Data: System Architecture Challenges
This document addresses the critical security challenges inherent in wireless data systems. It emphasizes the necessity of integrating robust security mechanisms and protocols during the design phase. Key concerns include ensuring data privacy, integrity, and authenticity, while combating denial-of-service attacks and malware. A comprehensive overview of security domains—from user authentication to device integrity—is provided. The paper highlights the limitations of existing protocols and advocates for new approaches, including lightweight algorithms and enhanced embedded processors, to bridge the security processing gap in wireless networks.
Securing Wireless Data: System Architecture Challenges
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Presentation Transcript
Securing Wireless Data:System Architecture Challenges Authors: Srivaths Ravi, Anand Raghunathan, and Nachiketh Potlapally Presented by Chris Jensen
Role of Security Mechanismsand Protocols • Ensure privacy and integrity of data • Authenticity of parties involved in transactions • Provide nonrepudiation • Prevent usage for denial of service attacks, filter viruses • Provide anonymous communication
Security Domains • Appliance domain security • User authentication • Network access domain security • Device authentication • Data privacy and integrity • Network domain security • Network infrastructure • Application domain • Authentication of applications on an appliance • Security of transactions between applications
Motivation • Wireless security can only be considered if it is accounted for during design of • Network architecture • Security protocols • Cryptographic algorithms • Software and Hardware architecture
Background • Many protocols address only one network access domain security. • Studies show security level provided by many protocols (802.11b, WLAN, CDPD, Bluetooth) are insufficient • The move from wired Internet to wireless appliances is bringing a push for increased wireless security by placing wired protocols on top of “bearer” technologies.
Challenges • Security processing gap • Security protocols greatly increase computational requirements of appliances • Ex: Palm IIIx- 3.4min for 512bit RSA key generation • Battery gap • Battery growth cannot keep up with processing requirements
Challenges II • Flexibility • Need to support a multitude of security protocols • Need for upgradability to newer protocols and enhancements • Tamper-proof implementation • Need to prevent malicious users from compromising system security
Processing Requirements ofCryptographic Algorithms atDifferent Data Rates
Processing Requirements of RSA-based SSL Handshake for Different Connection Latenciesand Module Sizes
Bridging the Gap • Embedded processors with enhanced security processing capabilities • Lightweight protocols and algorithms • The MOSES project
