At the COSMO Science Forum, visitors can explore the interactive exhibit "Remote Attestation" to learn how security in Internet communication can be increased. The networked infrastructure of railroad cars and control centers in logistics serves as an example.

Thanks to the Internet, people can communicate with each other over great distances. But without direct contact, it can be hard to know who the other person is and whether they can be trusted.

When two computers exchange messages with each other, they have the same problem. Both devices need to verify the identity and trustworthiness of the other. A technology that makes this possible is called „remote attestation.“

In the European research project iNGENIOUS, scientists at Barkhausen Institut are working on making such remote attestation easier to use. Networked sensors, which are used on vehicles in the field of logistics, serve as an application case. The sensors detect defects, for example, in the axes of railroad cars and automatically report the problem during the journey.

Our interactive setup shows how remote authentication is used to always report possible defects on railway wagons to the correct control center. Without this technology, it would be possible to falsify, redirect or suppress damage reports. Remote authentication thus increases communication security and can keep networked infrastructure secure and trustworthy.

To explore our new interactive exhibit, visit us at COSMO Science Forum at the Kulturpalast Dresden every week from Tuesday to Thursday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Admission is free of charge.

The iNGENIOUS project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N° 957216.