Proof of Authenticity of General IoT Information with Tamper-Evident Sensors and Blockchain (2512.18560v1)

Abstract: Sensor data in IoT (Internet of Things) systems is vulnerable to tampering or falsification when transmitted through untrusted services. This is critical because such data increasingly underpins real-world decisions in domains such as logistics, healthcare, and other critical infrastructure. We propose a general method for secure sensor-data logging in which tamper-evident devices periodically sign readouts, link data using redundant hash chains, and submit cryptographic evidence to a blockchain-based service via Merkle trees to ensure verifiability even under data loss. Our approach enables reliable and cost-effective validation of sensor data across diverse IoT systems, including disaster response and other humanitarian applications, without relying on the integrity of intermediate systems.