Preventing Radio Window Attacks
Abstract
Wireless networks, even those that protect the privacy and integrity of our data and devices, by the fact that they transmit radio waves, open us up to a new type of privacy and security threat, which we call the radio window attack. The wireless devices in our environment create a radio wave field in and around the area of deployment. Moving objects and humans disturb the field in ways that can be measured at locations in and outside of the deployment area. The radio waves propagate well beyond the perimeter in which the network is deployed. Signals from wireless transmitters penetrate non-metal external walls just like light from light bulbs penetrate glass windows. An adversary can use measurements of received wireless signals to ÒseeÓ whether people are present, in what activities they are engaged, where they are located, whether anything has moved since a previous time, and their breathing and heart rates even through brick or cement walls even in complete darkness. We propose to investigate and build analytical frameworks that would result in effective solutions to prevent radio window attacks. Specifically, We will develop a novel game theoretic framework where a genuine wireless network deploys multiple transmitters in different locations and changes transmitters in a probabilistic manner to minimize the chance of the attack receivers being able to classify the activities of people inside certain parts of the building. [Tasks 1-4]; We will develop and examine general multi-antenna MIMO-based defense methods to ÒconfuseÓ the attacker nodes. [Tasks 5-6]; We will develop new estimation bounds that quantify an attacker s ability to estimate a person s track over time. [Tasks 7-8]; We will evaluate the attacks and defense mechanisms within our framework through extensive experiments. Our goal here is to not build any particular system for a specific technology but to use our experimental evaluations to validate and further strengthen our framework, models, and defense mechanisms. [Tasks 9-10]. Our proposed research addresses an important physical security and privacy problem tied to wireless networks especially given the large number of recent efforts in trying to locate individuals/objects, interpret their movements, and learn what people are saying and typing inside otherwise secure areas from outside of the area. Wireless networks have compelling medical, industrial, and energy-saving benefits but will be less likely to be deployed if they provide an unseen eavesdropper, information about human presence, movements, and activities. Our research will have a significant impact on how wireless networks are planned in buildings, bases, and secure areas where the locations, activities, and gestures of people inside the building, when revealed, can result in serious threats to security and privacy. Our framework, methods, and new estimation bounds to quantify an attackerÕs ability, will advance the science related to wireless networks and game theory applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 16, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710457
Entities
People
- Sneha Kasera
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Utah