KeyChallenge: A Novel Sybil Attack Mitigation Technique Based on Cryptographic Key Generation
Siamak Solat · 2024
A Sybil attack poses a significant threat in distributed networks, allowing a malicious entity to wield disproportionate influence by generating multiple identifiers. In this paper, we introduce KeyChallenge, a novel approach leveraging a public key generation process to address Sybil attacks, effectively serving as a robust proof-of-work mechanism. To achieve this, we define a range for each of the 64 alphanumeric characters in Elliptic Curve public keys. We demonstrate the impracticality of an attacker generating a public key that matches all character ranges set by the system. KeyChallenge represents a significant advancement in mitigating Sybil attacks and fortifying network security within distributed systems, offering a promising and practical solution that effectively combats malicious activities.