Full frame encryption and modulation obfuscation using channel-independent preamble identifier

Rahbari, H; Krunz, M

Full frame encryption and modulation obfuscation using channel-independent preamble identifier

Rahbari, H Krunz, M

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Publisher:: IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 2016, 11, (12), pp. 2732-2747
Issue Date:: 2016-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rahbari, H
dc.contributor.author	Krunz, M
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-20T05:15:57Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-20T05:15:57Z
dc.date.issued	2016-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 2016, 11, (12), pp. 2732-2747
dc.identifier.issn	1556-6013
dc.identifier.issn	1556-6021
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160546
dc.description.abstract	The broadcast nature of wireless communications exposes various transmission attributes, such as the packet size, inter-packet times, and the modulation scheme. These attributes can be exploited by an adversary to launch passive (e.g., traffic analysis) or selective jamming attacks. This security problem is present even when frame headers and payloads can be encrypted. For example, by determining the modulation scheme, the attacker can estimate the data rate, and hence the payload size. In this paper, we propose Friendly CryptoJam (FCJ), a scheme that decorrelates the payload's modulation scheme from other transmission attributes by embedding information symbols into the constellation map of the highest-order modulation scheme supported by the system (a concept we refer to as indistinguishable modulation unification). Such unification is done using the least-complex trellis-coded modulation schemes, which are combined with a secret pseudo-random sequence in FCJ to conceal the rate-dependent pattern imposed by the code. It also preserves the bit error rate performance of the payload's original modulation scheme. At the same time, modulated symbols are encrypted to hide PHY-/MAC layer fields. To identify the Tx and synchronously generate the secret sequence at the Tx and Rx, an efficient identifier embedding technique based on Barker sequences is proposed, which exploits the structure of the preamble and overlays a frame-specific identifier on it. We study the implications of the scheme on PHY-layer functions through simulations and testbed experiments. Our results confirm the efficiency of FCJ in hiding the targeted attributes.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
dc.relation.ispartof	IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1109/TIFS.2016.2582560
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	08 Information and Computing Sciences, 09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
dc.title	Full frame encryption and modulation obfuscation using channel-independent preamble identifier
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.for	08 Information and Computing Sciences
utslib.for	09 Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Electrical and Data Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-20T05:15:55Z
pubs.issue	12
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	12

Abstract:

The broadcast nature of wireless communications exposes various transmission attributes, such as the packet size, inter-packet times, and the modulation scheme. These attributes can be exploited by an adversary to launch passive (e.g., traffic analysis) or selective jamming attacks. This security problem is present even when frame headers and payloads can be encrypted. For example, by determining the modulation scheme, the attacker can estimate the data rate, and hence the payload size. In this paper, we propose Friendly CryptoJam (FCJ), a scheme that decorrelates the payload's modulation scheme from other transmission attributes by embedding information symbols into the constellation map of the highest-order modulation scheme supported by the system (a concept we refer to as indistinguishable modulation unification). Such unification is done using the least-complex trellis-coded modulation schemes, which are combined with a secret pseudo-random sequence in FCJ to conceal the rate-dependent pattern imposed by the code. It also preserves the bit error rate performance of the payload's original modulation scheme. At the same time, modulated symbols are encrypted to hide PHY-/MAC layer fields. To identify the Tx and synchronously generate the secret sequence at the Tx and Rx, an efficient identifier embedding technique based on Barker sequences is proposed, which exploits the structure of the preamble and overlays a frame-specific identifier on it. We study the implications of the scheme on PHY-layer functions through simulations and testbed experiments. Our results confirm the efficiency of FCJ in hiding the targeted attributes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160546