Data authentication mechanism using blockchain's proof-of-trust mechanism in named data networking

Abstract

Blockchain is regarded as an approach that can increase the level of trust in the networking environment since its recorded transaction details using cryptographic techniques that make it immutable. Apart from its cryptographic ability, consensus mechanism has made Blockchain to be the main alternative in achieving trust in the network, especially in future Internet architecture such as Named Data Networking (NDN). In NDN, everyone can publish any content and distribute it, including the contaminated content. The contaminated content will be stored in cache memory and contaminate the cache memory. Since NDN does not predefine any trust schema, any nodes can certify the data authority. In this context, this paper attempt to propose a new data authentication scheme using the Blockchain's Proof-of-Trust consensus mechanism. The Proof-of-Trust mechanism is based on a trust anchor that aggregate votes from consortium of nodes before authenticating, distributing and storing content in the cache memory. The use of Proof-of-Trust mechanism in NDN will be deliberated in this paper. This new authentication scheme is expected to solve the issues of contaminated cache memory as well as to provide a new alternative of data authentication in the future Internet environment.