A Simplified yet High-Integrity Cryptographic Approach for Secure Data Transmission in 6LoWPAN

Abstract

The increasing adoption of 6LoWPAN-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) devices has brought unprecedented connectivity to low-power and resource-constrained environments. However, this growth has also heightened vulnerabilities surrounding data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. Existing cryptographic solutions, while secure, often exceed the computational, memory, and energy limitations of IoT devices running on constrained 6LoWPAN stacks. This paper presents a simplified yet high-integrity cryptographic approach designed to provide robust protection for data transmission while maintaining operational efficiency. The proposed design leverages lightweight block ciphers, optimized hashing mechanisms, and adaptive key management strategies to deliver a balanced security model that is both practical and resilient. The approach aligns with the architectural constraints of 6LoWPAN and ensures interoperability across multi-hop mesh networks. The study evaluates security performance, computational overhead, and resilience against common IoT attack vectors, demonstrating that simplification does not compromise data integrity or network reliability.