DCA-KEAE: A Dynamic Context-Aware Key Exchange and Adaptive Encryption Scheme for Secure RFID Systems

In dense RFID systems, where numerous readers and tags operate simultaneously in close proximity, securing reader-to-reader communication is essential to prevent attacks such as eavesdropping and spoofing. Existing protocols focus primarily on reader-to-tag communication and use static security mechanisms that may be inadequate in dynamic conditions. We propose DCA-KEAE, a Dynamic Context-Aware Key Exchange and Adaptive Encryption framework for RFID systems. DCAKEAE adapts security protocols in real-time based on factors such as reader proximity, system load, and threat levels: it employs lightweight symmetric keys for low-risk scenarios and escalates to stronger protocols like ECDH and AES-256 in highrisk environments. Evaluations with up to 10,000 readers show that DCA-KEAE reduces latency, optimizes encryption, and improves system throughput, offering a scalable and efficient solution for RFID networks, with applications extending to the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial automation, and smart grids.