MoDeNA : Enhancing User Security for Devices in Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks

Abstract

Today most used devices are connected with each other building the Internet of Things (IoT). They communicate with each other directly and share data with a plethora of other devices indirectly by using the underlying network infrastruc- ture. In both cases a variety of protocols are used depending on infrastructure, application (e.g., Smart City, eHealth), and device capability. But the overall concept of the data sharing is to do it in a secure manner so that different users (e.g., consumer, facilities, provider) can gain benefits. But what does “secure manner” means? This is a big question between the stakeholders, especially when talking of wireless personal and local area networks (WPANs) and wireless local area networks (WLAN), because the judgment of the security feeling depends on personal settings (e.g., easy to use, encrypted transmission, anonymization support). Therefore, MoDeNA – a Mobile Device Network Assistant – was de- veloped offering an opportunity for understanding the judgment of security by bringing the user’s concerns and their technology understanding of used devices and protocols into relation. MoDeNA provides a transparent overview over the used wireless security of the user’s device giving concrete advices for improving the connection security, helping to improve usability of mobile device security. As a use-case the smart city environment is used, because this is the most common area, where many different WPAN and WLAN connections exist, supported by different underlying infrastructures, and where secure data transmission is es- sential, because it is an “open communication area”.