Sustainable Development of Smart Cities with Advanced Cryptographic and Edge Computing Techniques

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancements in internet technology have revolutionized the way geographically dispersed entities, such as sensors, mobile devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, interact. As billions of IoT devices are now connected to the internet, these exchange real-time and sensitive information, presenting significant advantages for various applications. However, this vast proliferation of devices has also introduced serious security and privacy challenges that demand attention.

In terms of security, traditional cryptographic encryption algorithms like AES and 3DES have been widely used to protect data in computer systems and web applications. However, these standard cryptographic methods may not be suitable for resource-constrained IoT devices. Therefore, the need arises for efficient and lightweight encryption and authentication algorithms that can adequately secure data on such devices. Furthermore, with the impending rise of quantum computers, there is a pressing necessity to explore quantum-resistant security solutions to safeguard against potential future threats.

Protecting user privacy is equally vital, as many current digital connectivity systems fail to provide adequate privacy measures. This calls for the integration of edge computing techniques with traditional systems to address vulnerabilities in access control mechanisms. By employing edge computing technologies and advanced cryptographic solutions, a smarter and more secure infrastructure can be built, minimizing potential bottlenecks and enhancing overall performance.

In light of these challenges and opportunities, this Special Issue aims to invite research contributions focused on exploring the usability of advanced cryptographic algorithms and edge computing techniques. The goal is to effectively address the various security and privacy concerns prevalent in traditional digital connectivity systems. By bringing together cutting-edge research in these areas, this Special Issue aspires to provide optimized solutions, empowering the future of secure and privacy-conscious IoT and internet technologies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Distributed ledger-based security for cyber–physical systems;
• Zero-knowledge proofs based privacy solutions;
• Design of quantum secure cryptographic primitives;
• Edge computing technologies for cyber–physical system;
• Digital twin;
• Lightweight cryptographic protocols;
• Secure multiparty computation;
• Cloud data security;
• Cybersecurity analytics;
• Machine learning;
• Cryptographic algorithms and protocols;
• Game theory and blockchain-based security framework. 

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ashutosh Dhar Dwivedi
Guest Editor

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• cyber physical systems
• lightweight cryptography
• distributed ledger
• privacy
• edge computing technologies
• game theory
• quantum secure algorithms
• machine learning
• digital twin