https://www.mpg.de/18700996/internet-of-thinges-intelligent-reflecting-surface * * Deutsch * [ ] Toggle navigation [ ] * About us + o Profile # Portrait # Facts and Figures # Procedures and Regulations o President # Viewpoints # Speeches # Photos # Former Presidents # Scientific Vice-Presidents + o Statements o History # Max Planck Society # Kaiser Wilhelm Society # Researching and processing the past o Publications # Annual Report # Yearbook Highlights + o Conflict Management o Governing Bodies o Administration & Offices # Administrative Headquarters # Central facilities # Central Gender Equality Officer # Employee Representation # Ombudspersons o Supporting Max Planck * Research + o Institutes # Search by region o Scientific Members o Centrally Funded Projects # Cooperation with Fraunhofer # Lise Meitner Groups # Research Groups at Universities o Research Services + o Awards to Max Planck Scientists # Nobel Prize # Japan Prize # Fields Medal # Lasker Award # Leibniz Prize o Awards of the Max Planck Society # Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award # Harnack Medal # International Prize for Translational Neuroscience # Awards for Junior Scientists + o Research and society # Animal Studies # Genome Editing # Open Access o Knowledge Transfer # Max Planck Innovation # Technology Fields # Technology Transfer # Success Stories * Newsroom * Career + o Jobboard o What makes us special # Diversity & Inclusion # Family and career # Gender-equal career development # Women in science # Public sector employer o Services & Administration + o First steps to Max Planck o Bachelor Students o Doctoral Students # International Max Planck Research Schools # Max Planck Graduate Center # Max Planck Schools o Postdocs # Career Steps o Research Group Leaders # Lise Meitner Excellence Program # Max Planck Research Groups # Elisabeth-Schiemann-Kolleg + o Planck Academy o Alumni # Alumni Representatives # Max Planck Alumni Clubs # Max Planck Alumni Association e.V. o HR Development & Opportunities * International + o Max Planck worldwide # Post from... o Facts & Figures o Max Planck Centres o Partner Groups o Dioscuri Programme + o Country Portals # Europe # North America # Israel # Asia # Russia # Latin America # Africa Deutsch Max-Planck-Gesellschaft 1. Homepage 2. Newsroom 3. From the Institutes 4. New countermeasure against unwanted wireless surveillance Preventing eavesdropping via the Internet of Things Intelligent reflecting surfaces can protect sensible data against attacks by adversarial wireless sensing May 25, 2022 Computer Science The Internet of Things opens new gateways for eavesdroppers. The devices which are interconnected in more and more households communicate wirelessly. This can endanger privacy considerably: Passive eavesdroppers are able to obtain sensitive data through intercepted high-frequency signals. However, a team to which researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy belonged, developped a method based on intelligent reflecting surfaces to prevent such attacks. Smart devices are supposed to make our everyday lives easier. At the same time, however, they are a gateway for passive eavesdropping. To prevent possible surveillance of the movement profile within one's home, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, the Horst Gortz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum and the Cologne University of Applied Sciences have developed a novel system for protecting privacy in wireless communication. The method, based on the technology of intelligent reflective surfaces, will be presented by the researchers on 24 May 2022 at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. Surveillance of premises from a distance Almost all Internet of Things-devices, such as voice assistants, locks and cameras, rely on wireless connections based on high-frequency radio signals. Although cryptographic techniques are already in use to ensure data confidentiality, passive eavesdroppers can still exploit sensitive information from intercepted radio frequency signals. This is possible because the propagation of the signals is affected by the physical environment of the devices - by reflections from walls, objects and people present. Attackers can perceive such effects from a distance and, by applying simple statistical methods, conclude, for example, that a person is currently moving in the monitored room. Innovative approach against wireless eavesdropping attacks To counter this method known as adversarial wireless sensing, the team investigated the use of intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS). IRS are considered a forward-looking technology for establishing intelligent wireless environments: here, many reflective elements are distributed over a surface and their reflective behavior can be individually and electronically adjusted. This allows the elements to dynamically manipulate the incident radio waves. For example, IRS can be configured to reflect signals in a specific direction. The intelligent reflecting surface IRShield is positioned next to a Wi-Fi router for obfuscation of the environment-dependent wireless channel. [svg] The intelligent reflecting surface IRShield is positioned next to a Wi-Fi router for obfuscation of the environment-dependent wireless channel. (c) CASA, Michael Schwettmann The intelligent reflecting surface IRShield is positioned next to a Wi-Fi router for obfuscation of the environment-dependent wireless channel. (c) CASA, Michael Schwettmann With their approach, the researchers are the first in the world to propose IRS as a practical countermeasure against passive wireless eavesdropping attacks. As a novel countermeasure, they have developed a system called IRShield. IRShield uses a specially designed algorithm that creates a random IRS configuration, i.e., randomly aligns the reflective elements. This disguises the wireless channels in such a way that attackers can no longer read information about movements in the room from the signal. IRShield prevented 95 percent of the attacks In this context, IRShield is designed as a standalone, privacy-friendly extension for plug-and-play integration into existing wireless infrastructures. In contrast to previous research in the field, the IRShield researchers were able to meet three important requirements with their approach: the solution works independently of the devices, radio waveforms, and standards used; it does not compromise the quality of the wireless link; and it achieves very high channel obfuscation. The team tested how successfully IRShield can prevent state-of-the-art human motion detection attacks using off-the-shelf Wi-Fi devices: 95 percent of the attacks were unsuccessful thanks to IRShield. In certain cases, it even made motion detection largely impossible, regardless of the attacker's strategy. The team's findings can serve as a starting point for much further work, such as optimizing IRS configurations or investigating methods used by more advanced attackers. The work was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the MetaSEC project (grant number 16KIS1234K) and the German Research Foundation under the Cluster of Excellence Cyber Security in the Age of Large-Scale Adversaries, CASA (EXC 2092 - 390781972). RUB/Annika Godde * Science Magazine * Events * Images of Science * On Location * Infographics * Press Newsletter Contact Paul Staat Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, Bochum paul.staat@mpi-sp.org Original publication Paul Staat, Simon Mulzer, Stefan Roth, Veelasha Moonsamy, Markus Heinrichs, Rainer Kronberger, Aydin Sezgin, Christof Paar IRShield: A countermeasure against adversarial physical-layer wireless sensing IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, USA, 2022 Source Navigation Other Interesting Articles EcoBus is picking up speed EcoBus is picking up speed June 14, 2021 Complex Systems (M&T) Computer Science The newly founded company EcoBus GmbH is developing software infrastructure that combines shuttle services and regular bus services to provide a sustainable public transport solution Dari Motion buys Max Planck spin-off The Captury Dari Motion buys Max Planck spin-off The Captury April 26, 2021 Computer Science Medicine Max Planck motion capture technology is used in sports, medicine and entertainment Knowledge expansion for computers Knowledge expansion for computers April 22, 2021 Computer Science A new approach enables search engines to describe objects with negative statements We wouldn't be able to control superintelligent machines We wouldn't be able to control superintelligent machines January 11, 2021 Artificial intelligence Computer Science Digitalisation Social Sciences According to theoretical calculations of computer scientists, algorithms cannot contain a harmful artificial intelligence Uninvited listeners in your speakers Uninvited listeners in your speakers July 21, 2020 Computer Science Language assistants are programmed to react to "Alexa", "Hey Siri" and "OK Google", but they also respond to a large number of other words, too "Digital contact tracing might be our best shot" "Digital contact tracing might be our best shot" June 18, 2020 Computer Science Corona Digitalisation In an interview, computer scientist Manuel Cebrian explains why contact tracing of corona infected people needs technical support and why it can work even if not everyone installs a tracing app. Attack on autopilots Attack on autopilots June 10, 2020 Complex Systems (A&A) Computer Science How fast the development from assisted to fully automated vehicles will progress is uncertain. One crucial factor here is the reliability with which a vehicle can navigate in its surroundings and react to unforeseeable incidents. Our group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems showed that methods for motion analysis based on deep neural networks - likely components in future autonomous vehicles - can be confused by small patterns designed to "attack" these networks. Critical "Starbleed" vulnerability in FPGA chips Critical "Starbleed" vulnerability in FPGA chips April 20, 2020 Computer Science Digitalisation FPGA chips which are used, for example, in cloud data centers and mobile phone base stations have a vulnerable feature First international blockchain for science: bloxberg First international blockchain for science: bloxberg May 09, 2019 Computer Science Digitalisation Max Planck Digital Library (MPDL) initiates global research project On the age of computation in the epoch of humankind On the age of computation in the epoch of humankind December 03, 2018 Computer Science Digitalisation We live in a moment of profound transitions, a moment in which the accelerating dynamics of planetary change are becoming ever more perceptible. Artificial intelligence controls quantum computers Artificial intelligence controls quantum computers October 05, 2018 Computer Science Quantum Physics Neural networks enable learning of error correction strategies for computers based on quantum physics top Useful Links * President * Facts & Figures * Research Services * Doctoral Students Social Media * Facebook * Twitter * YouTube * Instagram * Netiquette * Contact * Alumni * Events * Keyword Collection * RSS Max-Planck-Gesellschaft * Purchase * Site Map * Imprint * Privacy Policy (c) 2022, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (c) 2003-2022, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Web-View Print Page Open in new window Estimated DIN-A4 page-width Go to Editor View Notification Settings [ ] Receive notifications for English content [ ] Receive notifications for German content Save Close [api]