GHOST · Project

Plug-and-Play Cybersecurity for Smart Homes That Non-Experts Can Actually Use

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Imagine your smart home — connected cameras, thermostats, door locks — is like a house with dozens of unlocked windows you didn't even know existed. GHOST built software that sits inside your home router and acts like a security guard who watches all traffic, spots suspicious activity using machine learning, and explains threats in plain language so you can make smart decisions without needing a PhD in cybersecurity. It even uses blockchain to protect its own security logs from being tampered with. The system was tested in over 140 real homes across three countries through the Red Cross network.

By the numbers

140+

real smart-homes used for demonstration

consortium partners

countries in consortium

countries with live pilot deployments (Spain, Norway, Romania)

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Smart home devices are multiplying fast, but most consumers have no idea how to secure their connected cameras, thermostats, and door locks against cyber threats. Existing cybersecurity tools are built for IT professionals, leaving millions of European households exposed. Companies selling smart home products or internet services face growing customer trust issues and incoming EU regulation pressure around IoT security.

The solution

What was built

GHOST built a vendor-independent software platform that embeds into smart-home network gateways, performing automated threat detection via deep packet inspection and machine learning, real-time risk assessment, and user-friendly security dashboards. The system includes blockchain-based protection for security logs and a middleware layer for cross-device interoperability, all validated in 140+ real homes.

Audience

Who needs this

Internet service providers bundling smart home packagesSmart home gateway and hub manufacturersElderly care and assisted living technology providersHome insurance companies exploring IoT-based risk modelsProperty management firms deploying smart building technology

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Telecom & Internet Service Providers

enterprise

Target: ISPs and broadband providers offering smart home bundles

If you are an internet service provider bundling smart home devices with your broadband plans — this project developed a vendor-independent gateway software that monitors all IoT traffic, detects threats via machine learning, and presents risks in plain language to subscribers. It was validated in over 140 real homes across Spain, Norway, and Romania, giving you a proven security add-on to differentiate your service.

Smart Home Device Manufacturers

mid-size

Target: Companies producing IoT devices, hubs, or home automation gateways

If you are a smart home hardware maker struggling with customer trust around device security — this project created middleware that plugs into existing gateways regardless of vendor, performs deep packet inspection, and builds user-friendly dashboards for real-time risk awareness. Tested with real customers of Televes and ThingsMaze across 3 countries, it can become a built-in security layer for your product line.

Elderly & Assisted Living Services

any

Target: Care providers and social organizations deploying IoT in homes of vulnerable populations

If you are a care provider deploying connected sensors and alarms in homes of elderly or vulnerable people — this project built automated threat detection that requires zero technical knowledge from residents. Demonstrated through the Red Cross network in over 140 homes, the system triggers security-friendly habits through behavioural prompts and protects critical health-related IoT data with blockchain-secured logs.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy this in our product or service?

The project data does not include specific licensing fees or per-unit costs. GHOST was designed as vendor-independent software that embeds into existing smart-home gateways, which suggests integration costs rather than new hardware purchases. Contact the coordinator for commercial licensing terms.

Can this scale to thousands or millions of homes?

GHOST was demonstrated in over 140 real smart-homes across Spain, Norway, and Romania. The software is designed to be vendor-independent with a dedicated middleware layer ensuring interoperability with multiple gateways and IoT devices, which is architecturally suited for mass deployment through ISPs or device manufacturers.

Who owns the IP and how can we license it?

The project consortium of 12 partners across 6 countries jointly developed the technology. TELEVES SA (Spain) coordinated the project. IP ownership and licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with the consortium, as this was an EU-funded Innovation Action.

Does this meet current EU cybersecurity regulations?

GHOST was funded under the EU's DS-02-2016 cybersecurity topic and was designed to boost European ICT security competitiveness. While it predates the EU Cyber Resilience Act, its focus on consumer IoT security and transparency aligns well with current regulatory direction. Compliance with specific current standards would need verification.

How long would integration take?

Based on available project data, GHOST includes a dedicated middleware layer for interoperability with multiple gateways and IoT devices, suggesting it was designed for relatively straightforward integration. The project ran for 3 years (2017-2020) and produced 36 deliverables covering the full development cycle. Actual integration timelines would depend on your specific gateway hardware.

What kind of threats does it actually detect?

The system performs network analysis and deep packet inspection for suspicious pattern recognition, applies machine learning for malicious behaviour detection, and carries out context-aware real-time risk assessment. It also uses analytics and visualization for user-friendly threat comprehension and decision support.

Consortium

Who built it

The GHOST consortium brings together 12 partners from 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Norway, UK) with a balanced mix of 4 industry players, 5 universities, 2 research organizations, and 1 other entity. The 33% industry ratio and 3 SMEs signal genuine commercial intent beyond pure research. Coordinator TELEVES SA is a Spanish private company — a real gateway hardware manufacturer — which means the technology was developed with an actual product integration path in mind, not just as an academic exercise. The geographic spread across Western and Northern Europe provides a strong go-to-market foundation for the EU smart home market.

TELEVES SACoordinator · ES
ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXISparticipant · EL
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEparticipant · CH
CRUZ ROJA ESPANOLAparticipant · ES
FUNDACION TECNOLOGIAS SOCIALESthirdparty · ES
KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIEparticipant · DE
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADTparticipant · DE
NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNUparticipant · NO
EXUS SOFTWARE LTDparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

TELEVES SA (Spain) — contact via SciTransfer for warm introduction to the project team

Order a report on this consortium See TELEVES SA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to integrate GHOST cybersecurity into your smart home product or ISP service? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the development team and help structure a licensing or partnership deal.

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