Design of a Decentralized Authentication and Off-Chain Data Management Protocol for VANETs Using Blockchain

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), the need for secure and reliable data sharing is more critical than ever. As ITS increasingly rely on the exchange of sensitive information, challenges related to data privacy, security, and the integrity of communication have emerged. Traditional approaches to securing vehicular networks often depend on centralized Trusted Third Parties (TTP) and cloud-based infrastructure, which introduce vulnerabilities such as single points of failure and potential latency issues. This paper proposes a novel decentralized architecture for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) that enhances security by eliminating the dependency on centralized cloud servers. The proposed protocol leverages blockchain technology to facilitate secure off-chain storage of event data and implements a decentralized authentication mechanism. This approach ensures that the privacy and integrity of shared information are maintained without compromising the efficiency of the system.