A systematic review on One-Time Programs

Abstract One-Time Program (OTPr) is a cryptographic construct designed to ensure the single execution of a given computer program. In their early theoretical conception in 2008, OTPrs were defined as a new paradigm in data privacy and information security scenarios. Over the years, several practical approaches — both hardware and software-based — have been proposed: garbled circuits, One-Time Memory (OTM), cryptographic algorithms, Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), and Blockchain systems. Moreover, methods based on quantum computing and quantum properties have been recently added to the frame. Nonetheless, a comprehensive overview of OTPrs is still missing up to this date. In this article, we present a systematic review of OTPrs literature, composed of 42 relevant articles. The primary studies explore theoretical foundations, practical implementations, and new possible applications of OTPrs across various domains. Our work provides researchers and software engineers with a complete picture of possible OTPrs components, and suggests a holistic methodology for experimenting with this new computing paradigm. Results show that OTPrs can find applications in novel scenarios responding to some of the most recent needs of both consumers and industry, despite the complexity of reproducing and applying such technology in the consumer market. Finally, an analysis of current research challenges is provided, which represents a starting point for researchers who want to contribute to the field.