Time Synchronization Attack Detection Method Based on Carrier Doppler Pearson Correlation Coefficient Estimation

The global navigation satellite system (GNSS), the main time synchronization method for phasor measurement units (PMUs) in smart grids, is highly vulnerable to time synchronization attacks (TSAs). This affects the timing of results and poses a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of power systems. To quickly detect TSAs and minimize the impact of time errors on PMU sensor networks, a TSA detection method based on carrier Doppler Pearson correlation coefficient estimation is proposed. This method can be directly implemented on existing commercial receivers without modifications. The method leverages the fact that carrier Doppler shifts in each satellite channel exhibit consistent changes when subjected to a TSA; therefore, if there is a correlation between channels, a consistent change in carrier Doppler shift caused by the TSA can be quickly detected through Pearson correlation coefficient estimation. In the TSA detection experiment, the proposed method was compared against four existing TSA detection methods on a self-developed experimental platform. The experimental results show that compared with the other four methods, the proposed method responds 4–22 s faster and has better detection speed, with more significant changes in the detection statistics. Notably, these advantages become more pronounced as the spoofing speed decreases and the spoofing stealthiness increases, indicating that this method has robust detection capability against sophisticated attacks. Meanwhile, it offers a lightweight computational overhead suitable for embedded PMU implementations, enhancing sensor-layer security in critical infrastructure. This work provides reliable synchronized measurements for power system monitoring and control over a wide area.