LHPUF: Lightweight Hybrid PUF for Enhanced Security in Internet of Things

Internet of Things (IoTs) facilitates remote monitoring and communication of everyday objects known as things which enables numerous applications. The networked nature of IoTs coupled with the increasing sensitivity of user data make security a foremost concern in IoTs. Physically Unclonable Functions (PUF) have shown to provide secure identification of devices by leveraging hardware characteristics of IC chips. However, application of PUF to IoTs is challenging due to the resource constrained nature of embedded devices. Thus development of lightweight and secure PUFs becomes necessary to address stringent resource requirements of IoTs. In this work, we develop LHPUF, a lightweight and a hybrid PUF for enhanced security in IoTs. LHPUF combines the security features of Arbiter and Ring Oscillator PUFs thus providing enhanced security. Evaluation of LHPUF shows that it is power-efficient and provides enhanced security compared to individual PUFs used in a standalone manner.