Blockchain Based Zero-Knowledge Proof of Location in IoT

TL;DR

This paper introduces a blockchain-based zero-knowledge proof protocol for location verification in IoT that enhances user privacy, resists attacks, and maintains computational efficiency suitable for delay-tolerant location-based services.

Contribution

It presents a novel zk-PoL protocol leveraging blockchain technology to improve privacy and security in location proofs for IoT applications.

Findings

The zk-PoL protocol effectively resists major security attacks.

The computational efficiency is independent of input parameters.

Suitable for delay-tolerant location-based services.

Abstract

With the development of precise positioning technology, a growing number of location-based services (LBSs) facilitate people's life. Most LBSs require proof of location (PoL) to prove that the user satisfies the service requirement, which exposes the user's privacy. In this paper, we propose a zero-knowledge proof of location (zk-PoL) protocol to better protect the user's privacy. With the zk-PoL protocol, the user can choose necessary information to expose to the server, so that hierarchical privacy protection can be achieved. The evaluation shows that the zk-PoL has excellent security to resist main attacks, moreover the computational efficiency is independent of input parameters and the zk-PoL is appropriate to delay-tolerant LBSs.