17122000
Efficient and robust key management for large mobile ad hoc networks
Existing research efforts in key management can only handle very limited number of nodes and are vulnerable to active attacks. In addition, the flexibility and adaptivity of handling dynamic risks in different parts of networks, although critical in the practical usages of ad hoc networks, have been largely ignored. In this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical scheme based on threshold cryptography to address both security and efficiency issues of key management and certification service in Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET). The main contributions of our key management scheme include: 1. providing various parts of MANET the flexibility of selecting appropriate security configurations, according to the risks faced; 2. providing the adaptivity to cope with rapidly-changing environments; 3. handling of MANETs with a large number of nodes; 4. issuing certificates with different levels of assurance. We also propose two algorithms, which can be used independently from the hierarchical structure, to protect certification services in ad hoc networks from active attacks. Our simulation results show that, compared to the previous work [16,18,19], our second algorithm is much faster in a friendly environment. When the key length is 1024 bits, the process of generating or renewing a certificate in our second algorithm is around six to eight times faster, and the process of generating partial certificates in our second algorithm is around 20-80 times faster. The latter advantage is critical in MANET where intrinsically the less help a node requests from its neighbors, the higher is the chance of obtaining the help. Furthermore, simulation results also show that our two algorithms work well in a hostile environment in which existing schemes work poorly.
17200585
Designated Verifier Signature Schemes: Attacks, New Security Notions and a New Construction
We show that the signer can abuse the disavowal protocol in the Jakobsson-Sako-Impagliazzo designated-verifier signature scheme. In addition, we identify a new security property—non-delegatability—that is essential for designated-verifier signatures, and show that several previously proposed designated-verifier schemes are delegatable. We give a rigorous formalisation of the security for designated-verifier signature schemes, and propose a new and efficient designated-verifier signature scheme that is provably unforgeable under a tight reduction to the Decisional Diffie-Hellman problem in the non-programmable random oracle model, and non-delegatable under a loose reduction in the programmable random oracle model. As a direct corollary, we also get a new efficient conventional signature scheme that is provably unforgeable under a tight reduction to the Decisional Diffie-Hellman problem in the non-programmable random oracle plus common reference string model.
8581433
An Abuse-Free Fair Contract-Signing Protocol Based on the RSA Signature
A fair contract-signing protocol allows two potentially mistrusted parities to exchange their commitments (i.e., digital signatures) to an agreed contract over the Internet in a fair way, so that either each of them obtains the other's signature, or neither party does. Based on the RSA signature scheme, a new digital contract-signing protocol is proposed in this paper. Like the existing RSA-based solutions for the same problem, our protocol is not only fair, but also optimistic, since the trusted third party is involved only in the situations where one party is cheating or the communication channel is interrupted. Furthermore, the proposed protocol satisfies a new property- abuse-freeness. That is, if the protocol is executed unsuccessfully, none of the two parties can show the validity of intermediate results to others. Technical details are provided to analyze the security and performance of the proposed protocol. In summary, we present the first abuse-free fair contract-signing protocol based on the RSA signature, and show that it is both secure and efficient.
16568303
Designated-verifier proxy signatures for e-commerce
In a designated-verifier proxy signature scheme, a user delegates her/his signing capability to another user in such a way that the latter can sign messages on behalf of the former, but the validity of generated signatures can only be checked by the designated verifier. In this paper, we first point out that one such scheme proposed recently by Dai et al. is insecure. To overcome the weaknesses in their scheme, based on the two-party Schnorr signature by Nicolosi et al., we present a new designated-verifier proxy signature scheme which is efficient and secure. Finally, we suggest the use of our scheme in electronic commerce applications, such as sale of digital products (digital music, movies, and books etc.).
34096143
On the Security of a Certified E-Mail Scheme
As a value-added service for standard e-mail systems, a certified e-mail scheme allows a sender to deliver a message to a receiver in a fair way in the sense that either the sender obtains a receipt from the receiver and the receiver accesses the content of the e-mail simultaneously, or neither party gets the expected item. In 2000, Ferrer-Gomila et al. [11] proposed a novel certified e-mail protocol. Their scheme is both efficient and optimistic, since it has only three steps and a trusted third party is not involved in normal cases. Later, Monteiro and Dahab [16] identified an attack on Ferrer-Gomila et al.’s scheme, and further presented a modified scheme. In this paper, we show that their improvement is still insecure by successfully identifying several weaknesses and security flaws. Our attacks also apply to Ferrer-Gomila et al.’s original scheme.
7849675
On the Security of a Group Signature Scheme with Forward Security
A group signature scheme allows a group member of a given group to sign messages on behalf of the group in an anonymous and unlinkable way. In case of a dispute, however, a designated group manager can reveal the signer of a valid group signature. Based on Song’s forward-secure group signature schemes, Zhang, Wu, and Wang proposed a new group signature scheme with forward security at ICICS 2003. Their scheme is very efficient on both communication and computation aspects. Unfortunately, their scheme is insecure. In this paper we present a security analysis to show that their scheme is linkable, untraceable, and forgeable.
12571017
A Metadata Integration Assistant Generator for Heterogeneous Distributed Databases
This paper describes a metadata interchange approach for semi-automatedin tegration of heterogeneous distributedd atabases. Our system prototype uses distributed metadata to generate a GUI tool for a meta-user (who does the metadata integration) to describe mappings between master and source databases by assigning index number and specifying conversion function names; the system uses Quilt as its XML query language. The queries for the local databases being transparent for users are generated, which is based on the metadata built semi-automatically. An experiment testing feasibility is reportedin which 3 different publishers' databases are integrated.
36826410
Web search with personalization and knowledge
Although many search engines provide relevantly good search results to the user, they do not consider personal, domain-specific preferences in their searching or ranking algorithms. In an intranet environment we could collect background information about users such as their expertise. If we can accumulate, categorize and personalize Web usage information, it can be used to help the user search Web pages efficiently and effectively. Data analysis and mining can further facilitate Web searching in an intelligent way. This paper describes Internet Search Advisor (ISA), a personalized, knowledge-driven search system that helps the user find informative Web sites. The ISA supports multi-dimensional data analysis and data mining based on association rules and sequential patterns.
1009884
Movement-assisted sensor deployment
Abstract-Adequate coverage is very important for sensor networks to fulfill the issued sensing tasks. In many working environments, it is necessary to make use of mobile sensors, which can move to the correct places to provide the required coverage. In this paper, we study the problem of placing mobile sensors to get high coverage. Based on Voronoi diagrams, we design two sets of distributed protocols for controlling the movement of sensors, one favoring communication and one favoring movement. In each set of protocols, we use Voronoi diagrams to detect coverage holes and use one of three algorithms to calculate the target locations of sensors it holes exist. Simulation results show the effectiveness of our protocols and give insight on choosing protocols and calculation algorithms under different application requirements and working conditions.
9542759
Defect-Tolerant Nanocomputing Using Bloom Filters
The authors propose a novel defect-tolerant design methodology using Bloom filters for defect mapping for nanoscale computing devices. It is a general approach that can be used for any permanent defects incurred during the manufacturing process. The redundant design methodology does not rely on a voting strategy, thus it utilizes the device redundancy more effectively than existing approaches. Additionally, our method does not have false-positive in defect identification, i.e. it will not report a defective device as functional. Moreover, it is very space economic and can be programmed to fit different scales and characteristics of the underlying specific nanoscale devices used in the system
62533537
Movement-Assisted Sensor Deployment
Abstract-Adequate coverage is very important for sensor networks to fulfill the issued sensing tasks. In many working environments, it is necessary to make use of mobile sensors, which can move to the correct places to provide the required coverage. In this paper, we study the problem of placing mobile sensors to get high coverage. Based on Voronoi diagrams, we design two sets of distributed protocols for controlling the movement of sensors, one favoring communication and one favoring movement. In each set of protocols, we use Voronoi diagrams to detect coverage holes and use one of three algorithms to calculate the target locations of sensors it holes exist. Simulation results show the effectiveness of our protocols and give insight on choosing protocols and calculation algorithms under different application requirements and working conditions.