The Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are emerging technologies that have attracted attention in many industries, including healthcare, automotive, and supply chain. IoT networks and devices are typically low-powered and susceptible to cyber intrusions. However, blockchains hold considerable potential for securing low-power IoT networks. Blockchain networks provide security features such as encryption, decentralisation, time stamps, and ledger functions. The integration of blockchain and IoT technologies may address many of the security concerns. However, integrating blockchain with IoT raises several issues, including the security vulnerabilities and anomalies of blockchain-based IoT networks. In this paper, we report on our experiments using our blockchain test bed to demonstrate that blockchains on IoT platforms are vulnerable to DDoS attacks, which can also potentially lead to device hardware failures. We show that a number of anomalies are visible during either a DDoS attack or IoT device failure. In particular, the temperature of IoT hardware devices can exceed 90 °C during a DDoS attack, which could lead to hardware failure and potential fire hazards. We also found that the Block Transaction Rate (BTR) and network block loss percentage can increase due to corrupted hardware, with the BTR dropping to nearly zero blocks/sec and a block loss percentage of over 50 percent for all evaluated blockchains, and as high as 81.3 percent in one case. Our experiments demonstrate that anomalous temperature, latency, bandwidth, BTR, and network block loss percentage can potentially be used to identify DDoS attacks.

Blockchain technology is an information security solution that operates on a distributed ledger system. Blockchain technology has considerable potential for securing Internet of Things (IoT) low-powered devices. However, the integration of IoT and blockchain technologies raises a number of research issues. One of the most important is the energy consumption of different blockchain algorithms. Because IoT devices are typically low-powered battery-powered devices, the energy consumption of any blockchain node must be kept low. IoT end nodes are typically low-powered devices expected to survive for extended periods without battery replacement. Energy consumption of blockchain algorithms is an important consideration in any application that combines both technologies, as some blockchain algorithms are infeasible because they consume large amounts of energy, causing the IoT device to reach high temperatures and potentially damaging the hardware; they are also a possible fire hazard. In this paper, we examine the temperatures reached in devices used to process blockchain algorithms, and the energy consumption of three commonly used blockchain algorithms running on low-powered microcontrollers communicating in a wireless sensor network. We found temperatures of IoT devices and energy consumption were highly correlated with the temperatures reached. The results indicate that device temperatures reached 80 °C. This work will contribute to developing energy-efficient blockchain-based IoT sensor networks.

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, industries such as healthcare have started using low-powered sensor-based devices. Because IoT devices are typically low-powered, they are susceptible to cyber intrusions. As an emerging information security solution, blockchain technology has considerable potential for protecting low-powered IoT end devices. Blockchain technology provides promising security features such as cryptography, hash functions, time stamps, and a distributed ledger function. Therefore, blockchain technology can be a robust security technology for securing IoT low-powered devices. However, the integration of blockchain and IoT technologies raises a number of research questions. Scalability is one of the most significant. Blockchain’ scalability of low-powered sensor networks needs to be evaluated to identify the practical application of both technologies in low-powered sensor networks. In this paper, we analyse the scalability limitations of three commonly used blockchain algorithms running on low-powered single-board computers communicating in a wireless sensor network. We assess the scalability limitations of three blockchain networks as we increase the number of nodes. Our analysis shows considerable scalability variations between three blockchain networks. The results indicate that some blockchain networks can have over 800 ms network latency and some blockchain networks may use a bandwidth over 1600 Kbps. This work will contribute to developing efficient blockchain-based IoT sensor networks.

This study conducts a detailed analysis of cybersecurity threats, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cyber-attacks targeting vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and electric vehicle (EV) communications within the rapidly evolving field of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). As autonomous and electric vehicles become increasingly integrated into daily life, their susceptibility to cyber threats such as replay, jamming, spoofing, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks necessitates the development of robust cybersecurity measures. Additionally, EV-specific threats, including battery management system (BMS) exploitation and compromised charging interfaces, introduce distinct vulnerabilities requiring specialized attention. This research proposes a comprehensive and integrated cybersecurity framework that rigorously examines current V2V, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and EV-specific systems through systematic threat assessments, vulnerability analyses, and the deployment of advanced security controls. Unlike previous state-of-the-art approaches, which primarily focus on isolated threats or specific components such as V2V protocols, the proposed framework provides a holistic cybersecurity strategy addressing the entire communication stack, EV subsystems, and incorporates AI-driven threat detection mechanisms. This comprehensive and integrated approach addresses critical gaps found in the existing literature, making it significantly more adaptable and resilient against evolving cyber-attacks. Our framework aligns with industry standards and regulatory requirements, significantly enhancing the security, safety, and reliability of modern transportation systems. By incorporating specialized cryptographic techniques, secure protocols, and continuous monitoring mechanisms, the proposed approach ensures robust protection against sophisticated cyber threats, thereby safeguarding vehicle operations and user privacy.