My PhD research pertains to the cryptographic authentication of GNSS and SBAS systems. Currently, GNSS signals are unprotected from spoofing attacks, where a nefarious actor tries to fool a receiver into believing a false position. As safety-of-life systems, and humans and general, become more reliant on ubiquitous satellite navigation systems, our infrastructure, vehicles, and devices will need to utilize GNSS Authentication features that do not presently exist. Here are a couple of interesting articles written by others that elaborate on the problem.

GPS ‘spoofing’ thickens the fog of war

Electronic Warfare Confounds Civilian Pilots, Far From Any Battlefield

Tesla Model S and Model 3 vulnerable to GNSS spoofing attacks

Expert Opinion: Spoofing attack reveals GPS Vulnerability

Applying cryptography to public navigation systems poses an interesting problem. Navigation systems are typically low-bandwidth, meaning the application of cryptography must be meticulously efficient. Moreover, navigation systems provide an extremely accurate time solution, posing a catch-22 for cryptography schemes that incorporate time into their security methodology. Below I have compiled lists of my publications sorted by topic.

Combinatorial Watermarking

I proposed an GNSS ranging authentication technique called Combinatorial Watermarking. Combinatorial Watermarking poses some design advantages over other watermarking techniques.

Publications Regarding Combinatorial Watermarking
Combinatorial Watermarking for GNSS Signal Authentication
Authentication Security of Combinatorial Watermarking for GNSS Signal Authentication

GNSS TESLA Time Synchronization

I derived some safe synchronization procedures necessary to bootstrap GNSS authentication techniques, and also propose some strategies to mitigate an attack on time synchronization for GNSS TESLA.

Publications Regarding GNSS TESLA Time Synchronization
Addressing a Critical Vulnerability in upcoming Broadcast-only TESLA-based GNSS-enabled Systems
Time Synchronization for TESLA-based GNSS-enabled Systems

GNSS TESLA Design

I detail how one should exploit TESLA’s bandwidth efficiency features for GNSS authentication.

Publications Regarding Efficient Cryptography Structures for GNSS
Cryptographic Ranging Authentication with TESLA, Rapid Re-keying, and a PRF
Efficient and Secure Use of Cryptography for Watermarked Signal Authentication

SBAS OTAR

I designed some over the air rekeying strategies for SBAS currently under evaluation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the organization responsible for creating international standards for SBAS.

Publications Regarding SBAS Over the Air Rekeying
Authentication of Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems with Over-the-air Rekeying Schemes
On SBAS Authentication with OTAR Schemes