Digital fingerprints for low-cost platforms using MEMS sensors

Abstract

With the Internet of Things on the horizon, correct authentication of Things within a population will become one of the major concerns for security. Physical authentication, which is implementing digital fingerprints by utilizing device-unique manufacturing variations, has great potential for achieving this purpose. MEMS sensors that are used in the Internet of Things have not been explored as a source of variation. In this paper, we target a commonly used MEMS sensor, an accelerometer, and utilize its process variations to generate digital fingerprints. This is achieved by measuring the accelerometer's response to an applied electrostatic impulse and its inherent offset values. Our results revealed that MEMS sensors could be used as a source for digital fingerprints for run-time authentication applications.