Waveform Randomization for Secure ISAC

Abstract

This paper studies waveform-level security for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). Instead of relying on spatial beamforming or power allocation, we randomize the sensing waveform itself using phase keys and tangent Artificial Noise (AN) applied to a Fourier-curve constellation. Coordinated legitimate nodes know the key and recover the sensing reference, while Eve observes only a randomized waveform and cannot construct the correct coherent matched reference. We consider an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-mounted Eve with a dominant Line-of-Sight (LOS) link who fully exploits favorable geometry, including a bypass scenario where Eve listens to both the direct and echo sides to circumvent our design. We further consider a stronger Eve that attempts phase-key reconstruction from long-term observations; even then, residual key mismatch structurally degrades correlation and AN cancellation, while accurate key recovery incurs high computational complexity. Numerical results show that the proposed design reduces Eve's probability of detecting the sensing reference using non-coherent detection and, in the bypass case, substantially suppresses her correct-delay lock probability, while the legitimate receiver reliably locks onto the reference through echo accumulation.

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