Advanced Information Security Solutions for Future and Efficient IoT, Wireless, and Localization Systems

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, coupled with the increasing demand for secure, reliable, and efficient wireless communication and localization systems and Machine Learning (ML) solutions, has created an urgent need for advanced cryptographic solutions tailored to the unique constraints of these environments. Devices such as wearables, sensors, mobile/sensor nodes, and autonomous systems often operate under strict limitations in processing power, memory, and energy consumption, rendering traditional cryptographic methods impractical.

This Special Issue aims to explore the synergy between cryptography, signal processing, wireless communications, localization, and control systems, with a particular focus on resource-constrained environments. We seek contributions that address the challenges of securing data and communications in dynamic, heterogeneous, and often mobile IoT ecosystems. The scope includes both theoretical advancements and practical implementations that demonstrate real-world applicability.

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and technical notes that present novel cryptographic algorithms, protocols, architectures, and system-level integrations designed to enhance the security, privacy, and efficiency of modern IoT and wireless systems.

Topics of Interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lightweight Cryptographic Algorithms: Design and optimization of cryptographic primitives for low-power, low-complexity devices.
• Secure Localization and Navigation: Cryptographic techniques for verifying and protecting location data in indoor and outdoor positioning systems.
• Signal Processing for Secure Communications: Integration of cryptographic methods with signal processing to protect wireless channels from eavesdropping and interference.
• Authentication and Access Control Protocols: Efficient and scalable mechanisms for device and user authentication in IoT and wireless networks.
• Privacy-Preserving Localization: Techniques that ensure user location privacy while maintaining service accuracy and responsiveness.
• Quantum-Resistant Cryptography: Algorithms and protocols designed to withstand future quantum computing threats.
• AI-Driven Cryptographic Systems: Use of machine learning and AI to adapt and optimize cryptographic protocols in real-time and dynamic environments.
• Secure Wireless Sensor Networks: Cryptographic frameworks for protecting data integrity and confidentiality in distributed sensor systems.
• Cross-Layer Security Architectures: Holistic approaches that integrate cryptographic security across multiple layers of communication and control.
• Secure Edge and Fog Computing: Cryptographic solutions for decentralized and latency-sensitive IoT applications.
• Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies: Applications in secure data sharing, identity management, and decentralized trust models.
• Cyber-Physical System Security: Cryptographic protection for systems integrating computation, networking, and physical processes.
• Secure Data Fusion and Aggregation: Techniques for securely combining data from multiple sources in localization and sensing applications.
• Resilient Network Protocols: Cryptographic enhancements for fault-tolerant and attack-resilient communication protocols.
• Secure Control Systems: Cryptographic methods for ensuring integrity and confidentiality in control loops and automation systems.

Authors interested in extending their conference papers should ensure that their final manuscript contains at least 50% new content and no more than 30% overlap with the original proceedings paper. All submissions will undergo a rigorous blind peer-review process.

We particularly encourage submissions that demonstrate practical implementations, experimental validations, and real-world deployments of cryptographic solutions in IoT, wireless, and localization systems. Contributions should aim to bridge the gap between cryptographic theory and operational feasibility, ensuring that proposed solutions are viable within the constraints of modern devices and networks.

By addressing these topics, this Special Issue seeks to contribute to the development of secure, efficient, and scalable systems that meet the evolving demands of smart environments, autonomous systems, and next-generation wireless networks.

Dr. Aleksandr Ometov
Dr. Pavel Mašek
Dr. Joaquín Torres-Sospedra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cryptography is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.