Enhancing Security and Trust in Internet of Things through Meshtastic Protocol Utilising Low-Range Technology

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has raised significant concerns regarding the trustworthiness of IoT devices, which is becoming a crucial aspect of our daily lives. In this paper, we deal with this important aspect by taking into account Meshtastic, a dynamic mesh networking protocol that offers robustness and adaptability, important characteristics for the dynamic and heterogeneous IoT environment. LoRaWAN (Low-Range Wide Area Network), a low-power, long-range wireless communication standard, introduces energy efficiency and extends the reach of IoT networks, enabling secure communication over extended distances. To improve the trustworthiness of IoT devices, we present an integrated approach that leverages the strengths of Meshstastic’s dynamic mesh networking capabilities and LoRa’s low-power, long-range communication, along with the integration of a reputation model specifically designed for IoT. We evaluated the performance of the proposed solution through several simulations and real-world experiments. The results show that the devices’ measured values of trust reflect the real behaviour of the devices. These findings underscore the viability and applicability of the Meshtastic protocol utilising LoRa technology as a pivotal step towards establishing resilient and trustworthy IoT infrastructures in the face of evolving security challenges.