Protecting domestic power-line communications

Abstract

In this paper we describe the protection goals and mechanisms in HomePlug AV, a next-generation power-line communications standard. This is a fascinating case-history in security usability. There are also novel protocol issues; interactions with mechanisms at other layers; and opportunities for both researchers and third-party vendors to build on the mechanisms provided. The central problem -- being sure whether a device being enrolled in the network is the device you think, not a similar one nearby -- is not well solved by conventional mechanisms such as public-key infrastructures, but appears to require either very old-fashioned or very novel approaches.