Lightweight Encryption Algorithms for IoT

The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has increased the demand for robust security solutions that are tailored to devices with limited resources. This paper presents a systematic review of recent literature on lightweight encryption algorithms designed to meet this challenge. Through an analysis of 22 distinct ciphers, the study identifies the main algorithms proposed and catalogues the key metrics used for their evaluation. The most common performance criteria are execution speed, memory usage, and energy consumption, while security is predominantly assessed using techniques such as differential and linear cryptanalysis, alongside statistical tests such as the avalanche effect. However, the most critical finding is the profound lack of standardized frameworks for both performance benchmarking and security validation. This methodological fragmentation severely hinders objective, cross-study comparisons, making evidence-based algorithm selection a significant challenge and impeding the development of verifiably secure IoT systems.