A-THENA: Early Intrusion Detection for IoT with Time-Aware Hybrid Encoding and Network-Specific Augmentation

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has significantly expanded attack surfaces, making IoT ecosystems particularly susceptible to sophisticated cyber threats. To address this challenge, this work introduces A-THENA, a lightweight early intrusion detection system (EIDS) that significantly extends preliminary findings on time-aware encodings. A-THENA employs an advanced Transformer-based architecture augmented with a generalized Time-Aware Hybrid Encoding (THE), integrating packet timestamps to effectively capture temporal dynamics essential for accurate and early threat detection. The proposed system further employs a Network-Specific Augmentation (NA) pipeline, which enhances model robustness and generalization. We evaluate A-THENA on three benchmark IoT intrusion detection datasets-CICIoT23-WEB, MQTT-IoT-IDS2020, and IoTID20-where it consistently achieves strong performance. Averaged across all three datasets, it improves accuracy by 6.88 percentage points over the best-performing traditional positional encoding, 3.69 points over the strongest feature-based model, 6.17 points over the leading time-aware alternatives, and 5.11 points over related models, while achieving near-zero false alarms and false negatives. To assess real-world feasibility, we deploy A-THENA on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, demonstrating its ability to perform real-time intrusion detection with minimal latency and memory usage. These results establish A-THENA as an agile, practical, and highly effective solution for securing IoT networks.

FRIEND: Federated Learning for Joint Optimization of multi-RIS Configuration and Eavesdropper Intelligent Detection in B5G Networks

As wireless systems evolve toward Beyond 5G (B5G), the adoption of cell-free (CF) millimeter-wave (mmWave) architectures combined with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) is emerging as a key enabler for ultra-reliable, high-capacity, scalable, and secure Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) communications. However, safeguarding these complex and distributed environments against eavesdropping remains a critical challenge, particularly when conventional security mechanisms struggle to overcome scalability, and latency constraints. In this paper, a novel framework for detecting malicious users in RIS-enhanced cell-free mmWave networks using Federated Learning (FL) is presented. The envisioned setup features multiple access points (APs) operating without traditional cell boundaries, assisted by RIS nodes to dynamically shape the wireless propagation environment. Edge devices collaboratively train a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) on locally observed Channel State Information (CSI), eliminating the need for raw data exchange. Moreover, an early-exit mechanism is incorporated in that model to jointly satisfy computational complexity requirements. Performance evaluation indicates that the integration of FL and multi-RIS coordination improves approximately 30% the achieved secrecy rate (SR) compared to baseline non-RIS-assisted methods while maintaining near-optimal detection accuracy levels. This work establishes a distributed, privacy-preserving approach to physical layer eavesdropping detection tailored for next-generation IIoT deployments.

Federated Learning-driven Beam Management in LEO 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) require efficient beam management under dynamic propagation conditions. This work investigates Federated Learning (FL)-based beam selection in LEO satellite constellations, where orbital planes operate as distributed learners through the utilization of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS). Two models, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and a Graph Neural Network (GNN), are evaluated using realistic channel and beamforming data. Results demonstrate that GNN surpasses MLP in beam prediction accuracy and stability, particularly at low elevation angles, enabling lightweight and intelligent beam management for future NTN deployments.

Flexible Intelligent Metasurface for Downlink Communications under Statistical CSI

Flexible intelligent metasurface (FIM) is a recently developed, groundbreaking hardware technology with promising potential for 6G wireless systems. Unlike conventional rigid antenna array (RAA)-based transmitters, FIM-assisted transmitters can dynamically alter their physical surface through morphing, offering new degrees of freedom to enhance system performance. In this letter, we depart from prior works that rely on instantaneous channel state information (CSI) and instead address the problem of average sum spectral efficiency maximization under statistical CSI in a FIM-assisted downlink multiuser multiple-input single-output setting. To this end, we first derive the spatial correlation matrix for the FIM-aided transmitter and then propose an iterative FIM optimization algorithm based on the gradient projection method. Simulation results show that with statistical CSI, the FIM-aided system provides a significant performance gain over its RAA-based counterpart in scenarios with strong spatial channel correlation, whereas the gain diminishes when the channels are weakly correlated.

ML-Enabled Eavesdropper Detection in Beyond 5G IIoT Networks

Advanced fifth generation (5G) and beyond (B5G) communication networks have revolutionized wireless technologies, supporting ultra-high data rates, low latency, and massive connectivity. However, they also introduce vulnerabilities, particularly in decentralized Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments. Traditional cryptographic methods struggle with scalability and complexity, leading researchers to explore Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven physical layer techniques for secure communications. In this context, this paper focuses on the utilization of Machine and Deep Learning (ML/DL) techniques to tackle with the common problem of eavesdropping detection. To this end, a simulated industrial B5G heterogeneous wireless network is used to evaluate the performance of various ML/DL models, including Random Forests (RF), Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. These models classify users as either legitimate or malicious ones based on channel state information (CSI), position data, and transmission power. According to the presented numerical results, DCNN and RF models achieve a detection accuracy approaching 100\% in identifying eavesdroppers with zero false alarms. In general, this work underlines the great potential of combining AI and Physical Layer Security (PLS) for next-generation wireless networks in order to address evolving security threats.

Near-Field Beamforming for Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces-assisted MIMO Networks

Stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIMs) have recently gained significant interest since they enable precoding in the wave domain that comes with increased processing capability and reduced energy consumption. The study of SIMs and high frequency propagation make the study of the performance in the near field of crucial importance. Hence, in this work, we focus on SIM-assisted multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems operating in the near field region. To this end, we formulate the weighted sum rate maximisation problem in terms of the transmit power and the phase shifts of the SIM. By applying a block coordinate descent (BCD)-relied algorithm, numerical results show the enhanced performance of the SIM in the near field with respect to the far field.

Achievable Rate Optimization for Large Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces Based on Statistical CSI

Stacked intelligent metasurface (SIM) is an emerging design that consists of multiple layers of metasurfaces. A SIM enables holographic multiple-input multiple-output (HMIMO) precoding in the wave domain, which results in the reduction of energy consumption and hardware cost. On the ground of multiuser beamforming, this letter focuses on the downlink achievable rate and its maximization. Contrary to previous works on multiuser SIM, we consider statistical channel state information (CSI) as opposed to instantaneous CSI to overcome challenges such as large overhead. Also, we examine the performance of large surfaces. We apply an alternating optimization (AO) algorithm regarding the phases of the SIM and the allocated transmit power. Simulations illustrate the performance of the considered large SIM-assisted design as well as the comparison between different CSI considerations.