A Protocol-Agnostic Backscatter-Based Security Layer for Ultra-Low-Power SWIPT IoT Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a protocol-agnostic, energy-efficient security layer for SWIPT IoT networks using backscatter-based device identification, validated through real-world experiments with battery-free sensing nodes.

Contribution

It proposes a novel, hardware-minimal backscatter scheme for secure device authentication that operates independently of communication protocols in SWIPT IoT systems.

Findings

Achieves secure identification with negligible impact on node autonomy

Demonstrates robustness against replay attacks in LoRaWAN networks

Validates practicality and scalability in real WSN deployments

Abstract

This paper presents a lightweight, protocol-agnostic security enhancement for Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Building on a backscatter-based identification mechanism, the proposed approach introduces a secure, energy-efficient layer that operates independently of communication protocols and with minimal hardware modification. A rectifier-driven backscattering scheme embedded in battery-free sensing nodes enables authentication without activating conventional RF transceivers, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring secure device identification. To assess robustness, replay attacks are emulated on standard LoRaWAN Activation By Personalization (ABP) encryption, highlighting vulnerabilities and demonstrating the relevance of the proposed solution. The approach is experimentally validated in a real Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) using LoRaWAN-compatible, battery-free sensing nodes equipped with compact, low-profile antennas, confirming both practicality and scalability for space-constrained IoT deployments. Results show that the method achieves secure identification, reliable energy harvesting, and data transmission with negligible impact on node autonomy. The proposed approach offers a practical, energy-efficient, and scalable security framework for SWIPT-enabled IoT systems, strengthening device authentication without altering existing communication protocols or compromising power autonomy.