Cyber-Security Threats and Side-Channel Attacks for Digital Agriculture

Sensors (Basel). 2022 May 5;22(9):3520. doi: 10.3390/s22093520.

Abstract

The invention of smart low-power devices and ubiquitous Internet connectivity have facilitated the shift of many labour-intensive jobs into the digital domain. The shortage of skilled workforce and the growing food demand have led the agriculture sector to adapt to the digital transformation. Smart sensors and systems are used to monitor crops, plants, the environment, water, soil moisture, and diseases. The transformation to digital agriculture would improve the quality and quantity of food for the ever-increasing human population. This paper discusses the security threats and vulnerabilities to digital agriculture, which are overlooked in other published articles. It also provides a comprehensive review of the side-channel attacks (SCA) specific to digital agriculture, which have not been explored previously. The paper also discusses the open research challenges and future directions.

Keywords: cryptography; digital agriculture; power analysis attack; security threats; side-channel attacks; smart agriculture; smart farming; vulnerability analysis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Computer Security*
  • Forecasting
  • Humans

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number (1129).