Physical Layer-Based Device Fingerprinting for Wireless Security: From Theory to Practice


Zhang, Junqing ORCID: 0000-0002-3502-2926, Ardizzon, Francesco ORCID: 0000-0001-6066-7550, Piana, Mattia ORCID: 0009-0009-2818-4861, Shen, Guanxiong ORCID: 0000-0002-0331-4211 and Tomasin, Stefano ORCID: 0000-0003-3253-6793 (2025) Physical Layer-Based Device Fingerprinting for Wireless Security: From Theory to Practice. IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, 20 (99). pp. 5296-5325. ISSN 1556-6013, 1556-6021

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Abstract

The identification of the devices from which a message is received is part of security mechanisms to ensure authentication in wireless communications. Conventional authentication approaches are cryptography-based, which, however, are usually computationally expensive and not adequate in the Internet of Things (IoT), where devices tend to be low-cost and with limited resources. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of physical layer-based device fingerprinting, which is an emerging device authentication for wireless security. In particular, this article focuses on hardware impairment-based identity authentication and channel features-based authentication. They are passive techniques that are readily applicable to legacy IoT devices. Their intrinsic hardware and channel features, algorithm design methodologies, application scenarios, and key research questions are extensively reviewed here. The remaining research challenges are discussed, and future work is suggested that can further enhance the physical layer-based device fingerprinting.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 4613 Theory Of Computation, 40 Engineering, 46 Information and Computing Sciences, 4006 Communications Engineering, 4606 Distributed Computing and Systems Software
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 12 May 2025 07:15
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2025 00:21
DOI: 10.1109/tifs.2025.3570118
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3192723
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