Securing User Identity in Web3 Social Platforms: A Post-Quantum Biometric Approach

Abstract

Contemporary Online Social Networks (OSNs) present critical vulnerabilities in user authentication and data integrity protocols. Since the social network is a multi-user platform, it requires a well-performing authentication mechanism that works along with the blockchain to ensure secure transactions. The existing methodologies exhibit significant limitations, particularly susceptibility to quantum cryptanalysis and privacy vector compromises. This study proposes a novel blockchain-based framework for decentralized OSNs, implementing smart contracts and InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) protocols to establish a distributed authentication architecture that mitigates these vulnerabilities while maintaining computational efficiency. Initially, we propose a post-quantum digital signature followed by a blockchain system using the signatures. Unlike previous OSNs, our solution uses post-quantum approaches, making it secure against both classical and quantum attacks. To enhance the data authentication of social network users, this research leverages the post-quantum multimodal biometric-based approach, where an improved version of Crystals Dilithium 3 is utilized in place of ECDSA in the XRP Ledger (XRPL) blockchain. We have integrated different post-quantum algorithms with XRPL using the open quantum safe library (liboqs) and compared the results in terms of resource consumption. The research explores the advantages of the proposed approach, highlighting its potential to mitigate the shortcomings of conventional methods and ensure secure data transmission in the era of quantum computing.