Securing IoT edge: a survey on lightweight cryptography, anonymous routing and communication protocol enhancements

Abstract In a technological landscape marked by the accelerated expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), securing edge communications is becoming essential for ensuring trust, confidentiality and data integrity. The constant evolution of cyber attacks, combined with the resource limitations of IoT devices, requires the development of effective, adaptable and scalable security solutions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances and persistent challenges in securing edge communications in the IoT, with a focus on lightweight cryptographic algorithms (ASCON, PRESENT, SIMON, SPECK) and on authentication mechanisms adapted to resource-constrained devices. The trade-offs between performance and security are emphasized, besides the need for IoT-specific Anonymous Overlay Networks(AONs) and Anonymous Routing Protocols(ARPs) capable of providing protection against traffic analysis and user anonymity. The study includes a detailed classification of 18 ARPs protocols, along with a presentation of the metrics used in evaluation. It also exposes MQTT-SN protocol vulnerabilities and proposes the development of standardized security frameworks with built-in encryption and authentication for scalable IoT deployments. The main finding of the study highlights the need for further research in developing tailored security solutions for IoT devices, as well as enhancing the security of the MQTT-SN protocol.