Journal of AI-Driven Communication Engineering

Articles

Vol. 1 (2025)

Enhancing Data Security in Smart Cities: A Trust-Based Approach Leveraging Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Submitted
December 9, 2025
Published
2025-12-09

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Smart cities rely on interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which face significant data security and privacy challenges due to their resource-constrained nature. While traditional cryptographic methods are often too computationally heavy for such environments, a scalable and efficient security solution that dynamically adapts to device trustworthiness remains lacking. This paper aims to address this gap by proposing a lightweight, trust-based security framework leveraging Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).

Methods: The study introduces a decentralized trust management framework that integrates ECC for efficient key exchange, data encryption, and secure communication with minimal computational overhead. A reputation-based system continuously evaluates device trustworthiness based on behavioral patterns and interaction history. This trust metric dynamically adjusts cryptographic strength—applying stricter security measures for interactions involving untrusted or suspicious entities. Additionally, a lightweight ECC-based authentication protocol is implemented to support secure device onboarding and access control within the smart city ecosystem. The framework was rigorously evaluated through extensive simulations and empirical testing against common IoT threats.

Results: The proposed framework demonstrated robust resilience against critical security threats, including man-in-the-middle attacks, eavesdropping, and unauthorized access attempts. Simulation results showed that the ECC-based approach significantly reduces computational overhead and energy consumption compared to traditional cryptographic techniques, while maintaining high security standards. The dynamic trust mechanism effectively identified and isolated compromised or malicious devices, enhancing overall network integrity. Furthermore, the authentication protocol enabled seamless yet secure integration of new devices into the IoT infrastructure without degrading system performance.

Conclusion: This study presents a highly effective and scalable security solution tailored for resource-constrained IoT environments in smart cities. The primary contribution is a decentralized, trust-aware ECC-based framework that balances security and efficiency. Additional findings highlight its adaptability to evolving threat landscapes and its practical viability for real-world deployment. These results underscore the potential of integrating cryptographic agility with behavioral trust models to future-proof smart city infrastructures, offering both theoretical advancement and practical value for IoT security.

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