Mutual Authentication Protocols for RFID Systems

Abstract

Radio-Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) is emerging as a pervasive computing technology with numerous applications. Current low-cost RFID tags are highly resource-constrained and cannot support complex security mechanisms. Hence they have potential risks and may violate the privacy of their bearers. The challenge in providing security for low-cost RFID tags lies in that they are computationally weak devices, unable to perform even basic symmetric-key cryptographic operations as proposed in currently available protocols. In this thesis we have analyzed the security issues and requirements for a RFID system. We have proposed a suite of lightweight mutual authentication protocols for low-cost RFID tags which offer an adequate level of security at much reduced cost. We also compare our proposed protocols with those proposed by others. Furthermore we apply our proposed protocol to secure a supply chain management system.