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RIOT-based smart metering system for privacy-preserving data aggregation using watermarking and encryption

Farzana Kabir, David Megias, Krzysztof Cabaj

TL;DR

This paper presents RIOT-based privacy-preserving data aggregation for smart metering by combining reversible watermarking with AES encryption. It provides two protocol variants: LSB-shifting-based reversible watermarking (RLS) for low-frequency meters and difference-expansion-based reversible watermarking (RDE) for high-frequency meters, both secured by AES and implemented on RIOT-running Nucleo hardware. The approach achieves data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity without relying on trusted third parties, and is evaluated with real hardware showing favorable computational efficiency and low communication overhead. The work demonstrates practical viability for scalable privacy-preserving data aggregation in smart grids and compares favorably against existing schemes. Overall, the dual-watermarking strategy and RIOT-based implementation offer a lightweight, secure path for aggregating fine-grained energy data in modern smart metering systems.

Abstract

The remarkable advancement of smart grid technology in the IoT sector has raised concerns over the privacy and security of the data collected and transferred in real-time. Smart meters generate detailed information about consumers' energy consumption patterns, increasing the risks of data breaches, identity theft, and other forms of cyber attacks. This study proposes a privacy-preserving data aggregation protocol that uses reversible watermarking and AES cryptography to ensure the security and privacy of the data. There are two versions of the protocol: one for low-frequency smart meters that uses LSB-shifting-based reversible watermarking (RLS) and another for high-frequency smart meters that uses difference expansion-based reversible watermarking (RDE). This enables the aggregation of smart meter data, maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. The proposed protocol significantly enhances privacy-preserving measures for smart metering systems, conducting an experimental evaluation with real hardware implementation using Nucleo microcontroller boards and the RIOT operating system and comparing the results to existing security schemes.

RIOT-based smart metering system for privacy-preserving data aggregation using watermarking and encryption

TL;DR

This paper presents RIOT-based privacy-preserving data aggregation for smart metering by combining reversible watermarking with AES encryption. It provides two protocol variants: LSB-shifting-based reversible watermarking (RLS) for low-frequency meters and difference-expansion-based reversible watermarking (RDE) for high-frequency meters, both secured by AES and implemented on RIOT-running Nucleo hardware. The approach achieves data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity without relying on trusted third parties, and is evaluated with real hardware showing favorable computational efficiency and low communication overhead. The work demonstrates practical viability for scalable privacy-preserving data aggregation in smart grids and compares favorably against existing schemes. Overall, the dual-watermarking strategy and RIOT-based implementation offer a lightweight, secure path for aggregating fine-grained energy data in modern smart metering systems.

Abstract

The remarkable advancement of smart grid technology in the IoT sector has raised concerns over the privacy and security of the data collected and transferred in real-time. Smart meters generate detailed information about consumers' energy consumption patterns, increasing the risks of data breaches, identity theft, and other forms of cyber attacks. This study proposes a privacy-preserving data aggregation protocol that uses reversible watermarking and AES cryptography to ensure the security and privacy of the data. There are two versions of the protocol: one for low-frequency smart meters that uses LSB-shifting-based reversible watermarking (RLS) and another for high-frequency smart meters that uses difference expansion-based reversible watermarking (RDE). This enables the aggregation of smart meter data, maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. The proposed protocol significantly enhances privacy-preserving measures for smart metering systems, conducting an experimental evaluation with real hardware implementation using Nucleo microcontroller boards and the RIOT operating system and comparing the results to existing security schemes.
Paper Structure (23 sections, 5 figures, 3 tables, 2 algorithms)

This paper contains 23 sections, 5 figures, 3 tables, 2 algorithms.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Motivation
  3. Contribution
  4. Literature Review
  5. Overview of the System Model
  6. System Architecture
  7. Security and Privacy Requirements
  8. Attack Model and Security Assumptions
  9. Proposed protocol
  10. Preliminaries
  11. Reversible watermarking:
  12. AES cryptography:
  13. Protocol Phases
  14. Initialization phase:
  15. Smart meter phase:
  16. ...and 8 more sections

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Smart Metering System
  • Figure 2: Protocol phases for low-frequency SMs
  • Figure 3: Protocol phases for high-frequency SMs
  • Figure 4: The Nucleo-f207zg microcontroller board used for simulation
  • Figure 5: Comparison Graph