A smart contract-based 6G-enabled authentication scheme for securing Internet of Nano Medical Things network

Abstract

Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a pivotal field with wide-ranging implications. Its integration into the 6G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) has given rise to the 6G-enabled IoNT (Internet of Nano Things) paradigm, impacting sectors such as healthcare, industries, smart homes, aerospace, and defense. This technology offers opportunities to revolutionize existing methodologies and enhance efficiency. Research efforts are now focusing on developing secure, scalable network infrastructures tailored for the healthcare sector at the nanoscale, leading to the concept of the Internet of Nano Medical Things (IoNMT). However, the unique characteristics of nanotechnology pose security challenges, particularly concerning privacy, confidentiality, dependability, latency, and the expensive consequences of blockchain-based storage. Authentication and transparency are vital for ensuring secure data handling in IoNMT networks, necessitating a secure access mechanism resistant to unauthorized interference. To tackle these challenges, this study proposes a smart contract-based authentication protocol developed specifically for 6G-IoNMT networks. The framework aims to manage real-time information with minimal latency through decentralized peer-to-peer cloud servers while addressing security and privacy concerns. Thorough security and privacy assessments, including ROR model evaluations, Scyther tool analysis, and informal security evaluations, validate the protocol’s effectiveness. Moreover, the simulation highlights that this protocol offers superior security and efficiency as well as energy consumption compared to existing protocols.