Authenticated Encryption for Janus-Based Acoustic Underwater Communication

Abstract

Wireless underwater communications commonly utilize acoustic waves due to their superior robustness and range compared to radio waves. But usage of acoustic waves introduces some constraints, such as a low data rate and high packet loss. In addition, most information sent using acoustic waves under water today is unencrypted and unauthenticated. With the development of underwater environments, there is an increased need for data protection among marine operators, since the underwater threat landscape is rapidly broadening with new kinds of attacks, such as eavesdropping, routing attacks, and data tampering. To overcome these problems, in this paper, we propose two security schemes integrated with the first standard for acoustic underwater communication, Janus. The aim is to counteract the threats, bearing in mind the limitations of the acoustic communication channels. The proposed schemes are based on symmetric cryptography. The ultimate goal is to provide a way for underwater nodes to exchange authenticated and encrypted information.