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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yazdi, Ali Tafazoli, Nejjar, Peter, Hochrein, Lena
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.00638
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author Yazdi, Ali Tafazoli
Nejjar, Peter
Hochrein, Lena
author_facet Yazdi, Ali Tafazoli
Nejjar, Peter
Hochrein, Lena
contents Counterfeiting poses a significant challenge across multiple industries, leading to financial losses and health risks. While DNA-based molecular tagging has emerged as a promising anti-counterfeiting strategy, existing methods rely on predefined DNA sequences, making them vulnerable to replication as sequencing and synthesis technologies advance. To address these limitations, we introduce POSERS (Position-Oriented Scattering of Elements among a Randomized Sequence), a steganographic tagging system embedded within DNA sequences. POSERS ensures copy- and forgery-proof authentication by adding restrictions within randomized DNA libraries, enhancing security against counterfeiting attempts. The POSERS design allows the complexity of the libraries to be adjusted based on the customer's needs while ensuring they withstand the ongoing improvements in DNA synthesis and sequencing technologies. We mathematically validate its security properties and experimentally demonstrate its effectiveness using Next-Generation Sequencing and an authentication test, successfully distinguishing genuine POSERS tags from counterfeit ones. Our results highlight the potential of POSERS as a long-term, adaptable solution for secure product authentication.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_00638
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle POSERS: Steganography-Driven Molecular Tagging Using Randomized DNA Sequences
Yazdi, Ali Tafazoli
Nejjar, Peter
Hochrein, Lena
Cryptography and Security
Probability
Biomolecules
Counterfeiting poses a significant challenge across multiple industries, leading to financial losses and health risks. While DNA-based molecular tagging has emerged as a promising anti-counterfeiting strategy, existing methods rely on predefined DNA sequences, making them vulnerable to replication as sequencing and synthesis technologies advance. To address these limitations, we introduce POSERS (Position-Oriented Scattering of Elements among a Randomized Sequence), a steganographic tagging system embedded within DNA sequences. POSERS ensures copy- and forgery-proof authentication by adding restrictions within randomized DNA libraries, enhancing security against counterfeiting attempts. The POSERS design allows the complexity of the libraries to be adjusted based on the customer's needs while ensuring they withstand the ongoing improvements in DNA synthesis and sequencing technologies. We mathematically validate its security properties and experimentally demonstrate its effectiveness using Next-Generation Sequencing and an authentication test, successfully distinguishing genuine POSERS tags from counterfeit ones. Our results highlight the potential of POSERS as a long-term, adaptable solution for secure product authentication.
title POSERS: Steganography-Driven Molecular Tagging Using Randomized DNA Sequences
topic Cryptography and Security
Probability
Biomolecules
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.00638