Securing Wireless Sensor Networks Against Denial‐of‐Sleep Attacks Using RSA Cryptography Algorithm and Interlock Protocol

• Published in: International journal of communication systems 2020-03, Vol.33 (4), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Fotohi, Reza, Firoozi Bari, Somayyeh, Yusefi, Mehdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; ASDA‐RSA; Clustering; Computer simulation; Cryptography; denial of sleep attack; Depletion; Energy conservation; network lifetime; Nodes; Performance measurement; Remote sensors; Residual energy; RSA cryptography; Sensors; Sleep; Wireless networks; WSNs
• ISSN: 1074-5351; 1099-1131
• DOI: 10.1002/dac.4234

Summary Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been vastly employed in the collection and transmission of data via wireless networks. This type of network is nowadays used in many applications for surveillance activities in various environments due to its low cost and easy communications. In these networks, the sensors use a limited power source which after its depletion, since it is non‐renewable, network lifetime ends. Due to the weaknesses in sensor nodes, they are vulnerable to many threats. One notable attack threating WSN is Denial of Sleep (DoS). DoS attacks denotes the loss of energy in these sensors by keeping the nodes from going into sleep and energy‐saving mode. In this paper, the Abnormal Sensor Detection Accuracy (ASDA‐RSA) method is utilized to counteract DoS attacks to reducing the amount of energy consumed. The ASDA‐RSA schema in this paper consists of two phases to enhancement security in the WSNs. In the first phase, a clustering approach based on energy and distance is used to select the proper cluster head and in the second phase, the RSA cryptography algorithm and interlock protocol are used here along with an authentication method, to prevent DoS attacks. Moreover, ASDA‐RSA method is evaluated here via extensive simulations carried out in NS‐2. The simulation results indicate that the WSN network performance metrics are improved in terms of average throughput, Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), network lifetime, detection ratio, and average residual energy. To reduce the energy consumed and improve the network lifetime, in ASDA‐RSA a clustering method functioning on energy and distance basis divides the network into clusters to opt the cluster head. Plus, the RSA algorithm and an interlocking protocol are employed along with an authentication method to prevent Denial of Sleep attacks. Employing the authentication method proposed here extends the network lifetime, through effective battery consumption while maintaining a secure communication within the network.