# Side Auth: Synthesizing Virtual Sensors for Authentication

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.11745 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.11745/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 9 of its 45 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 27 Jan 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [MobileFaceNets: Efficient CNNs for Accurate Real-Time Face Verification on Mobile Devices](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1804.07573/) (2018)
- [Visually Indicated Sounds](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1512.08512/) (2015)
- [Light Commands: Laser-Based Audio Injection Attacks on Voice-Controllable Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.11946/) (2020)
- [Systematic Classification of Side-Channel Attacks: A Case Study for Mobile Devices](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1611.03748/) (2016)
- [Trick or Heat? Manipulating Critical Temperature-Based Control Systems Using Rectification Attacks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1904.07110/) (2019)
- [Taxonomy and Challenges of Out-of-Band Signal Injection Attacks and Defenses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1901.06935/) (2019)
- [Touchtone leakage attacks via smartphone sensors: mitigation without hardware modification](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.13834/) (2021)
- [Person Identification Based on Hand Tremor Characteristics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1606.06840/) (2016)
- [Side-channel based intrusion detection for industrial control systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1712.05745/) (2017)

## Abstract (arXiv)

While the embedded security research community aims to protect systems by reducing analog sensor side channels, our work argues that sensor side channels can be beneficial to defenders. This work introduces the general problem of synthesizing virtual sensors from existing circuits to authenticate physical sensors' measurands. We investigate how to apply this approach and present a preliminary analytical framework and definitions for sensor side channels. To illustrate the general concept, we provide a proof-of-concept case study to synthesize a virtual inertial measurement unit from a camera motion side channel. Our work also provides an example of applying this technique to protect facial recognition against silicon mask spoofing attacks. Finally, we discuss downstream problems of how to ensure that side channels benefit the defender, but not the adversary, during authentication.