Securing UAV Networks: Exploring Computationally Efficient Authentication Protocols

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have become integral to every aspect of our daily lives and revolutionized operational procedures. These devices can operate remotely, eliminating the need for an onboard human pilot capable of performing autonomous missions in civilian and military applications. However, security always remains a critical challenge for UAV networks. Due to their limited computational capabilities, UAVs require lightweight security solutions to counter cyber threats effectively. One such solution involves developing computationally efficient authentication protocols. Such protocols ensure that only authorized entities can exchange information over the network, thus protecting the UAV networks from unauthorized access and other security threats. In this article, we explore computationally efficient authentication protocols from the literature, especially those proposed for UAVs, by comparing their efficiency in terms of computation and communication costs and identifying the most suitable one. Finally, we investigate potential research directions.