QR Code-Based Authentication in IoT Mesh Network

In the context of IoT, mesh networks are vital due to their ability to provide reliable and scalable communication among numerous devices. Mesh networks enhance coverage and redundancy by allowing each node to relay data, making the network robust against node failures. However, the literature highlights significant security vulnerabilities within mesh structures, such as susceptibility to unauthorized access and data breaches. The aim of this study is to significantly enhance the security of the mesh network by integrating security measures such as AES encryption, mutual authentication, and one-time passwords. The setup generally involves generating unique keys and tokens for each device, ensuring secure key distribution using quick response (QR) codes, and providing encrypted communication to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches. In this study, conducted using ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32 CAM modules, it is observed that the total computational load of cryptographic methods, when security is integrated, averaged 1019 ms. This delay is considered acceptable for IoT applications.