Safe is the New Smart: PUF-Based Authentication for Load Modification-Resistant Smart Meters

In the energy sector, IoT manifests in form of next-generation power grids that provide enhanced electrical stability, efficient distribution, and utilization. The primary feature a Smart Grid is presence an advanced bi-directional communication network between meters at consumer end servers Utility Operators. are broadly vulnerable to attacks on physical systems. We propose secure operationally asymmetric mutual authentication key-exchange protocol for communication. Our balances security efficiency, delegates complex cryptographic operations resource-equipped servers, carefully manages workload resource-constrained meter nodes using unconventional lightweight primitives such as Physically Unclonable Functions. prove well-established assumptions. implement proposed scheme end-to-end prototype commercial-off-the-shelf products, server, credential generator trusted third party. Additionally, we demonstrate physics-based attack named load modification merely securing channel does not meter, but requires further protections ensure correctness reported consumption. Hence, countermeasure goes side-by-side with our implementation.