Controlled Isolated Data

Controlled Isolated Data (abbreviated as CID, and sometimes referred to as See-Eye-Dee) is an open protocol, developed by Enyinnaya Michael, intended to support secure, decentralized communication and data synchronization across multiple computing environments. It is designed to operate with decentralized technologies such as Gun.js^[1], and is compatible with web browsers, Node.js, Java, Kotlin, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).^[2]

Design and functionality

CID is designed to support secure data exchange and synchronization across multiple platforms. It includes components for communication between peers, encryption for data security, and methods for synchronizing data across different devices. These components are intended to allow secure data transfer and to maintain consistency in decentralized systems.

Message Structure

CID messages are composed of the following elements:

Header: Contains metadata such as sender and recipient identifiers, timestamps, and message type.
Payload: The encrypted content of the message.
Signature: A cryptographic signature intended to verify message integrity and authenticity.

This format allows CID to isolate sensitive data and limit access to intended recipients.

Encryption

The protocol uses asymmetric encryption techniques, such as RSA cryptosystem or Elliptic-curve cryptography^[3], to protect message content. Senders encrypt the payload with the recipient’s public key and sign it using their private key. Recipients verify the sender’s signature and decrypt the content using their own private key.

Data synchronization

CID supports synchronization of data across nodes using a decentralized model. When used in combination with Gun.js, CID allows data to be shared and updated in real time or while offline, with updates propagating once a connection is reestablished. This makes it suitable for environments where intermittent connectivity is common.

Privacy and access control

Data handled via CID can be restricted to specific users or devices through key-based authentication. The protocol does not depend on centralized infrastructure for message delivery or data persistence, which aligns with decentralized privacy models.

Implementation and platform support

CID is implemented as a platform-agnostic specification, with libraries planned or available for multiple environments:

Web Browsers: CID is compatible with client-side JavaScript and browser storage APIs, including IndexedDB.
Node.js: Server-side JavaScript environments can implement CID to handle peer coordination or relay data.
Kotlin and Java: Libraries written in these languages allow use on Android and other Java Virtual Machine (JVM)-based platforms.
Progressive Web Apps: CID's structure accommodates features common to PWAs, such as offline mode and service workers.

Applications

CID is suitable for use in systems that require secure, distributed communication and data storage. Notable contexts include:

Messaging: Applications that rely on peer-to-peer, encrypted messaging may use CID as a data exchange protocol.
Document Synchronization: The protocol can be used for syncing structured data between clients in collaborative environments.
Internet of Things (IoT): CID’s support for lightweight synchronization and decentralized communication aligns with edge computing and sensor networks.

References

^ Unger, Nik; Dechand, Sergej; Bonneau, Joseph; Fahl, Sascha; Perl, Henning; Goldberg, Ian; Smith, Matthew (2015). "SoK: Secure Messaging". 2015 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. pp. 232–249. doi:10.1109/SP.2015.22. ISBN 978-1-4673-6949-7.
^ Edwards, Dr Jason (2024-09-28). Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to CIS 18 Controls. Springer Nature. ISBN 979-8-8688-0506-6.
^ Wong, David (2021-10-19). Real-World Cryptography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-63835-084-2.

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[1] Unger, Nik; Dechand, Sergej; Bonneau, Joseph; Fahl, Sascha; Perl, Henning; Goldberg, Ian; Smith, Matthew (2015). "SoK: Secure Messaging". 2015 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. pp. 232–249. doi:10.1109/SP.2015.22. ISBN 978-1-4673-6949-7.

[2] Edwards, Dr Jason (2024-09-28). Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to CIS 18 Controls. Springer Nature. ISBN 979-8-8688-0506-6.

[3] Wong, David (2021-10-19). Real-World Cryptography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-63835-084-2.

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