Protecting privacy in IoT devices without sacrificing efficiency
Dominik Roy George developed new methods to protect sensitive data on Internet of Things (IoT) devices, allowing them to operate efficiently while keeping users鈥� information secure.
IoT devices are small devices with limited processing power, memory, and energy that collect and process personal and business information, including biometric data, usage patterns, and proprietary software. They are widely used in everyday life, from smartwatches that track health to thermostats that control home environments, and in critical areas such as healthcare, smart cities, and industrial automation.
Protecting this information is challenging because traditional privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), which secure data during storage, computation, and transmission, often demand more computing power, memory, or energy than these devices can provide. At the same time, some IoT systems operate in safety-critical or low-connectivity environments, where relying on external cloud services or trusted authorities is not possible.
Meeting the privacy challenge
PhD researcher investigated how PETs can be redesigned to run directly on constrained IoT devices. His research focused on scenarios where devices must remain private, reliable, and practical, while processing sensitive data locally. He defended his thesis on Thursday, October 30.
Protecting sensitive data on connected devices
He developed Obscura, the first system that lets drones verify a person鈥檚 identity while keeping biometric data private, even in areas with limited internet access. He also designed methods for autonomous vehicles to detect potential collisions without revealing the exact routes they take.
In addition, he created systems that allow multiple operators to safely share drones. He also developed techniques that verify IoT device software is authentic and untampered, all without exposing sensitive information. Each solution was carefully designed to balance strong privacy protections with the limited computing power and battery life of these devices.
New approaches to safeguarding sensitive Data on IoT devices
Traditional privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) are too demanding for small Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which have limited power and memory but collect sensitive data.
Dominik Roy George redesigned PETs to run directly and efficiently on constrained IoT devices, ensuring strong data privacy without slowing them down or draining their batteries.
hrough systems like Obscura, which allows drones to verify biometrics privately, his work ensures that next-generation IoT systems are secure, practical, and meet regulations like GDPR.
PhD researcher Dominik Roy George
Practical and societal impact
Across these projects, he combined privacy-enhancing technologies with additional algorithms to prevent interference and keep data private. His solutions were tested on real devices, showing that sensitive information can be protected without slowing down the devices or draining their batteries.
By proving that IoT devices can be both private and efficient, his work helps businesses follow rules like GDPR, promotes safer technology, and brings researchers together to improve IoT security
George鈥檚 work represents a significant step toward next-generation IoT systems that are secure, practical, and privacy-conscious. By making it possible to protect sensitive data on everyday devices, his research contributes to safer, more trustworthy technology in both private and professional contexts.
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Supervisors
Sandro Etalle, Nicola Zannone, Savio Sciancalepore
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