Secured electrocardiograph (ECG) signal using partially homomorphic encryption technique–RSA algorithm

• Main Authors: Shaikh, Muhammad Umair, Wan Adnan, Wan Azizun, Ahmad, Siti Anom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2020
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/73390/1/ECG.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/73390/; http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjst/browse/special-issue?article=JST(S)-0571-2020

ECG signal differs from individual to individual, making it hard to be emulated and copied. In recent times ECG is being used for identifying the person. Hence, there is a requirement for a system that involves digital signal processing and signal security so that the saved data are secured at one place and an authentic person can see and use the ECG signal for further diagnosis. The study presents a set of security solutions that can be deployed in a connected healthcare territory, which includes the partially homomorphic encryption (PHE) techniques used to secure the electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. This is to record confidentially and prevent the information from meddling, imitating and replicating. First, Pan and Tompkins’s algorithm was applied to perform the ECG signal processing. Then, partially homomorphic encryption (PHE) technique - Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithm was used to encrypt the ECG signal by using the public key. The PHE constitutes a gathering of semantically secure encryption works that permits certain arithmetical tasks on the plaintext to be performed straightforwardly on the ciphertext. The study shows a faster and 90% accurate result before and after encryption that indicates the lightweight and accuracy of the RSA algorithm. Secure ECG signal provides innovation in multiple healthcare sectors such as medical research, patient care and hospital database.