Enhanced Proxy Re-Encryption With Blockchain For Privacy-Preserving IOT Data Exchange

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has introduced significant challenges in maintaining data security, integrity, and privacy, particularly in dynamic and multi-user environments where sensitive information is frequently exchanged across distributed networks. Conventional security mechanisms often fall short in addressing the unique demands of IoT systems due to their limited scalability, vulnerability to advanced cyber threats, and the need for real-time data processing. To address these concerns, this paper presents a novel and secure data-sharing architecture that seamlessly integrates Homomorphic Proxy Re-Encryption (HPRE) with blockchain technology. The proposed HPRE mechanism empowers a trusted proxy to re-encrypt ciphertext for designated recipients without accessing the original plaintext, thereby enabling flexible, privacy-preserving information exchange among authorized users. This allows IoT data owners to maintain control over their data while securely delegating access rights in a controlled and verifiable manner. To enhance accountability and eliminate single points of failure, a blockchain-based ledger is employed to immutably record all encryption operations, key-sharing events, and data access transactions. This integration guarantees transparency, traceability, and tamper-resistance, fostering a trustless environment suitable for highly sensitive IoT applications such as healthcare monitoring, industrial automation, and smart city infrastructures. Additionally, by incorporating lattice-based cryptography within the HPRE framework, the system achieves strong post-quantum security guarantees, rendering it resilient against both classical and emerging quantum computing threats. The proposed architecture is designed to be scalable, lightweight, and adaptable to heterogeneous IoT ecosystems, making it a reliable and future-proof solution for secure data exchange in privacy-critical applications. Experimental results and security analyses demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the system in real-world IoT scenarios, confirming its potential for widespread adoption in next-generation secure IoT networks.