Proximity Verification Function of Real World Data Sources Based on Similarity Analysis on Environmental Information

Internet of Things (IoT) systems using real world data are making our lives more convenient and efficient by using environmental information. The IoT system consists of an IoT device that obtains real-world data, a server that processes and stores the data obtained by the IoT device, and actuators that adjust environmental information. If the server is compromised by an attacker, the data stored on the server may be tampered, and cause the actuator to operate incorrectly based on the tampered data. Existing studies focus on the possibility that multiple IoT devices may also exist near the in a proximity to detect the occurence of the data tampering by the malicious device or attackers. In this existing study, unique data is shared among the multiple IoT devices in close proximity using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and sent to a server along with the obtained real-world data. The server compares and analyzes the data sent from the IoT devices to verify whether the real-world data is tampered or not by the malicious IoT device or attackers. However, the unique data may be recorded by an attacker and shared via BLE to a distant IoT device, which misleads the IoT system into believing the proximity of an IoT device that is not originally in proximity, leading to a false sense of data integrity. Therefore, in this study, we propose a method to verify the proximity of an IoT device to other IoT devices based on the similarity of environmental information to ensure the integrity of data before it is stored in the blockchain. To solve the existing problem, this study proposes the development of a data management infrastructure equipped with the capability to identify devices in physical proximity by recording and verifying environmental information dependent on time and location, thereby enhancing security against such attacks. The approach further addresses attacks that attempt to tamper with the data before it is stored on the blockchain, enhancing security measures against these threats.