Security and feasibility of power line communication system

Abstract

Power Line Communication (PLC) has the potential to become the preferred connectivity technique for providing broadband to homes and offices with advantage of eliminating the need for new wiring infrastructure and reducing the cost. The PLC channel, its characterization, standardization and applications has been well studied. However, the security of PLC has not been investigated sufficiently, and such assessments are required for prospective implementation of successful PLC communication systems. Since PLC uses power line as the medium, it has similar characteristics with wireless communications from the security perspective. This paper provides discussion of security issues and feasibility for PLC networks. The authentication and cryptographic scheme used in PLC standard is also discussed.