A Secure Network Coding System Against Wiretap Attacks

Abstract

Cyber security is a vital performance metric for networks. Wiretap attacks belong to passive attacks. It commonly exists in wired or wireless networks, where an eavesdropper steals useful information by wiretapping messages being shipped on network links. It seriously damages the confidentiality of communications. This paper proposed a secure network coding system architecture against wiretap attacks. It combines and collaborates network coding with cryptography technology. Some illustrating examples are given to show how to build such a system and prove its defense is much stronger than a system with a single defender, either network coding or cryptography. Moreover, the system is characterized by flexibility, simplicity, and easy to set up. Finally, it could be used for both deterministic and random network coding system.