Research Projects

This project addresses the urgent need for secure localization within 5G and Beyond 5G (B5G) environments, especially as IoT, cyber-physical systems, and interconnected networks increasingly depend on precise, reliable location data. As 6G networks emerge, these security concerns are magnified due to 6G's high localization accuracy and dynamic connectivity, which introduce new avenues for sophisticated attacks. Traditional cryptographic methods alone fall short for physical layer security (PLS), given the open nature of wireless channels and the complex attack vectors—such as eavesdropping, jamming, and pilot contamination—that exploit these vulnerabilities. The project aims to advance understanding and defenses in PLS for 5G/B5G localization, with three primary objectives: a) Identify and Model Novel Attacks: Characterize emerging attack vectors targeting PLS, including angle and distance manipulation and passive object spoofing, particularly focusing on the new vulnerabilities that reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) introduce. b) Develop Resilient Countermeasures: Design robust localization protocols that integrate multi-dimensional countermeasures (e.g., consistency checks across delay, angle, Doppler) and implement integrity monitoring to detect and mitigate these novel attacks, ensuring reliable security. c) Establish a Real-Time Testbed for Evaluation: Build a real-time testbed to test and refine these countermeasures, simulating various attack scenarios under controlled yet realistic B5G network parameters. This environment will allow for comprehensive evaluation and fine-tuning of countermeasure performance in response to dynamic threats. Key experiments will include: (i) Real-Time Testing of Attack Scenarios: Simulate attack vectors (e.g., denial-of-service via signal manipulation, angle estimation distortion, and RIS-induced signal alteration) and observe their impacts on localization. (ii) Validation of Countermeasures: Test the countermeasures under realistic network conditions to assess their strengths and limitations, refining them for operational effectiveness. (iii) Benchmarking Localization Accuracy and Integrity: Measure localization performance and integrity using PLS-based methods to ensure reliable detection and mitigation of threats in B5G environments. Achieving the project objectives would significantly enhance secure localization within 5G/B5G systems, supporting critical applications like autonomous driving and industrial automation that depend on precise and resilient location information. The expected outcomes include establishing new foundational principles in PLS for secure localization and contributing to a comprehensive framework for location verification in future wireless networks. Ultimately, this research will equip the field with essential tools and insights to protect 6G networks, advancing both foundational science and practical applications in secure communications.