Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

An efficient and secure cipher scheme for MIMO–OFDM systems based on physical layer security

  • Published:
Telecommunication Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO–OFDM) is, currently, the most dominant air interface for wireless communications, and the basic foundation for many network standards, due to its practicality and efficiency at high data speeds. Specifically, this system combines the MIMO and OFDM technologies, to achieve maximum capacity, reliability and throughput. On the other hand, achieving data confidentiality over wireless links in MIMO–OFDM systems, remains a pressing issue that should be tackled. In this paper, we propose an efficient and secure cipher scheme for MIMO–OFDM systems, based on the randomness and dynamicity of the physical layer. In particular, a channel-based parameter, which is extracted from the shared wireless channel, is combined with a secret key, only known to the communicating devices, to generate a dynamic key. This key is, then, used to derive two simple cipher primitives, which are a masking sequence and a permutation table. Both of these cipher primitives are updated frequently to enhance the security and robustness of transmitted data and prevent attacks. The proposed solution is considered very efficient and lightweight since it consists of simple operations, mainly, addition and permutation. Moreover, the proposed solution takes into consideration the OFDM frame symbol length, which can be fixed or varying from one antenna to another. Therefore, the proposed solution consists of two cipher variants, one secures OFDM symbols having the same length (same number of modulation symbols) and the other secures OFDM symbols that have different lengths on different antennas. Finally, several security and performance tests are conducted to prove the efficiency and robustness of the proposed solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sharma, V., & Kaur, H. (2016). On BER evaluation of MIMO–OFDM incorporated wireless system. Optik-International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, 127(1), 203–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Melki, R., Noura, H., Mansour, M., & Chehab, A. (2019). A survey on OFDM physical layer security. Physical Communication, 32, 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hamamreh, J. M., Furqan, H. M., & Arslan, H. (2018). Classifications and applications of physical layer security techniques for confidentiality: A comprehensive survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 21(2), 1773–1828.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tsoulos, G. (2006). MIMO system technology for wireless communications. CRC Press.

  5. Sivakrishna, S., & Yarrabothu, R. (2018). Design and simulation of 5G massive MIMO kernel algorithm on SIMD vector processor. In Conference on signal processing and communication engineering systems (SPACES) (pp. 53–57). IEEE.

  6. Melki, R., Noura, H., Mansour, M., & Chehab, A. (2020). Physical layer security schemes for MIMO systems: An overview. Wireless Networks, 26(3), 2089–2111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kapetanovicn, D., Zheng, G., & Rusek, F. (2015). Physical layer security for massive MIMO: An overview on passive eavesdropping and active attacks. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(6), 21–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chen, X., Lei, L., Zhang, H., & Yuen, C. (2015). Large-scale MIMO relaying techniques for physical layer security: AF or DF? IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 14(9), 5135–5146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Deng, Y., Wang, L., Wong, K. K., Nallanathan, A., Elkashlan, M., & Lambotharan, S. (2015). Safeguarding massive MIMO aided hetnets using physical layer security. In International conference on wireless communications signal processing (WCSP) (pp. 1–5).

  10. Yang, Q., Wang, H., Zhang, Y., & Han, Z. (2016). Physical layer security in MIMO backscatter wireless systems. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 15(11), 7547–7560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Schulz, M., Loch, A., & Hollick, M. (2014). Practical known-plaintext attacks against physical layer security in wireless MIMO systems. In NDSS

  12. Yang, N., Wang, L., Geraci, G., Elkashlan, M., Yuan, J., & Di Renzo, M. (2015). Safeguarding 5G wireless communication networks using physical layer security. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(4), 20–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, X., Zhong, C., Yuen, C., & Chen, H. H. (2015). Multi-antenna relay aided wireless physical layer security. IEEE Communications Magazine, 53(12), 40–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Poor, H., & Schaefer, R. (2017). Wireless physical layer security. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(1), 19–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Maharaja, N., Mishra, B., & Bansode, R. (2016). Performance evaluation of spatial multiplexing MIMO–OFDM system using MMSE detection under frequency selective Rayleigh channel. Global Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 15, 27–33.

  16. Omri, A., & Bouallegue, R. (2011). New transmission scheme for MIMO–OFDM. International Journal of Next Generation Network, 3(1), 11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee, Y., Jo, H., Ko, Y., & Choi, J. (2017). Secure index and data symbol modulation for OFDM-IM. IEEE Access, 5, 24959–24974.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hamamreh, J. M., Basar, E., & Arslan, H. (2017). OFDM-subcarrier index selection for enhancing security and reliability of 5G URLLC services. IEEE Access, 5, 25863–25875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhang, J., Marshall, A., Woods, R., & Duong, T. (2017). Design of an OFDM physical layer encryption scheme. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 66(3), 2114–2127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hamamreh, J. M., & Arslan, H. (2017). Secure orthogonal transform division multiplexing (OTDM) waveform for 5G and beyond. IEEE Communications Letters, 21(5), 1191–1194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Cheng, D., Gao, Z., Liu, F., & Liao, X. (2015). A general time-domain artificial noise design for OFDM AF relay systems. In Proceedings of IEEE/CIC international conference on communications in China (ICCC), Shenzhen, China, November (pp. 1–6).

  22. Akitaya, T., & Saba, T. (2015). Energy efficient artificial fast fading for MISO–OFDM systems. In Proceedings of IEEE global communications conference (GLOBECOM), San Diego, CA, USA, December (pp. 1–6).

  23. Rahbari, H., & Krunz, M. (2017). Exploiting frame preamble waveforms to support new physical-layer functions in OFDM-based 802.11 systems. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 16(6), 3775–3786.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang, W., Zhang, C., Chen, C., Jin, W., & Qiu, K. (2016). Joint PAPR reduction and physical layer security enhancement in OFDMA-PON. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 28(9), 998–1001.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Xiao, Y., Chen, M., Li, F., Tang, J., Liu, Y., & Chen, L. (2015). PAPR reduction based on chaos combined with SLM technique in optical OFDM IM/DD system. Optical Fiber Technology, 21, 81–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Lim, D., No, J., Lim, C., & Chung, H. (2005). A new SLM OFDM scheme with low complexity for PAPR reduction. IEEE Signal Processing Letters, 12(2), 93–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Tsai, Y., Tai, C., Yang, K. (2014). Effective channel perturbation based on cyclic delay for physical layer security in OFDM systems. In Proceedings of international conference on information science, electronics and electrical engineering (ISEEE), Sapporo, Japan, April 2014 (Vol. 2, pp. 823–827).

  28. Hamamreh, J. M., Furqan, H., & Arslan, H. (2017). Secure pre-coding and post-coding for OFDM systems along with hardware implementation. In Proceedings of IEEE international wireless communications and mobile computing conference (IWCMC), Valencia, Spain, June 2017 (pp. 1338–1343).

  29. Li, H., Wang, X., & Zou, Y. (2014). Dynamic subcarrier coordinate interleaving for eavesdropping prevention in OFDM systems. IEEE Communications Letters, 18(6), 1059–1062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang, B., Zhan, Q., Chen, S., Li, M., Ren, K., Wang, C., & Ma, D. (2014). Priwhisper: Enabling keyless secure acoustic communication for smartphones. IEEE Internet Of Things Journal, 1(1), 33–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Huo, F., & Gong, G. (2014). A new efficient physical layer OFDM encryption scheme. In Proceedings of IEEE international conference on computer communications (INFOCOM), Toronto, ON, Canada, April 2014 (pp. 1024–1032).

  32. Wang, Y., & Zhang, L. (2017). High security orthogonal factorized channel scrambling scheme with location information embedded for MIMO-based VLC system. In 2017 IEEE 85th vehicular technology conference (VTC Spring), June 2017 (pp. 1–5).

  33. Tanigawa, Y., Kozai, Y., & Saba, T. (2017). A physical layer security scheme employing imaginary receiver for multiuser MIMO–OFDM systems. In Proceedings of IEEE international conference on communications (ICC), May 2017 (pp. 1–6).

  34. Ahmed, M., & Bai, L. (2017). Space time block coding aided physical layer security in Gaussian MIMO channels. In International Bhurban conference on applied sciences and technology (IBCAST), January 2017 (pp. 805–808).

  35. Chen, X., & Zhang, Y. (2017). Mode selection in MU-MIMO downlink networks: A physical-layer security perspective. IEEE Systems Journal, 11(2), 1128–1136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang, Y., Liang, T., & Sun, A. (2015). Joint transmit antenna selection and jamming for security enhancement in MIMO wiretap channels. In IEEE proceedings of international conference on communications, China (ICCC), November 2015 (pp. 1–6).

  37. Li, G., & Hu, A. (2016). Virtual MIMO-based cooperative beamforming and jamming scheme for the clustered wireless sensor network security. In IEEE proceedings of international conference on communications, China (ICCC), October 2016 (pp. 2246–2250).

  38. Fan, Y., Liao, X., & Vasilakos, A. V. (2017). Physical layer security based on interference alignment in K-User MIMO Y wiretap channels. IEEE Access, 5, 5747–5759.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Melki, R., Noura, H. N., Mansour, M. M., & Chehab, A. (2018). An efficient OFDM-based encryption scheme using a dynamic key approach. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 6, 361–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Noura, H., Melki, R., Chehab, A., & Mansour, M. M. (2018). A physical encryption scheme for low-power wireless M2M devices: A dynamic key approach. Mobile Networks and Applications, 24, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Noura, H., Melki, R., Chehab, A., Mansour, M. M., & Martin, S. (2018). Efficient and secure physical encryption scheme for low-power wireless M2M devices. In IWCMC security symposium, Limassol, Cyprus, June.

  42. Noura, H., Chehab, A., Sleem, L., Noura, M., Couturier, R., & Mansour, M. M. (2018). One round cipher algorithm for multimedia IoT devices. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 77(14), 18383–18413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Guo, J., Peyrin, T., & Poschmann, A. (2011). The photon family of lightweight hash functions. In Annual cryptology conference (pp. 222–239). Springer.

  44. Guo, J., Peyrin, T., Poschmann, A., & Robshaw, M. (2011). The led block cipher. In International workshop on cryptographic hardware and embedded systems (pp. 326–341). Springer.

  45. Beaulieu, R., Shors, D., Smith, J., Treatman-Clark, S., Weeks, B., & Wingers, L. (2015). Simon and speck: Block ciphers for the internet of things. IACR Cryptology ePrint Archive, 2015, 585.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Heron, S. (2009). Advanced encryption standard (AES). Network Security, 2009(12), 8–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research is supported by the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut and by the EIPHI Graduate School (contract “ANR-17-EURE-0002”).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Reem Melki & Ali Chehab

  2. FEMTO-ST Institute, CNRS, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), Belfort, France

    Hassan N. Noura

Authors
  1. Reem Melki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hassan N. Noura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ali Chehab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reem Melki.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Melki, R., Noura, H.N. & Chehab, A. An efficient and secure cipher scheme for MIMO–OFDM systems based on physical layer security. Telecommun Syst 79, 17–32 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-021-00853-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-021-00853-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation