A security framework for Wireless Sensor Networks

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A security framework for Wireless Sensor Networks

• Tanveer A Zia
• Supervised by Prof Albert Zomaya

2
Outlines

• Motivation
• The Problem
• Research Questions
• Possible deliverables
• Tools

3
Motivation

• Why Sensor Network Security?
• An ongoing research that deviates from typical
  network security
• Critical security implications in sensitive
  applications like military projects, habitat
  monitoring, early bush fire detections, detecting
  terrorist activities, emergency response services
  etc.
• Wanted to explore secure key-management
  techniques and secure routing in resource starved
  sensor networks

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The Problem

• WSNs are inherently insecure
• WSNs have unique constraints that make security
  difficult.
• WSNs offer the attacker unique attacks that
  arent found in traditional networks.
• Lack of physical security
• Not all attacks can be stopped (assuming
  insiders)
• Security trade offs what is the tolerance level?

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Research Questions

• If a node is compromised, how to detect that node
  and then exclude only that node from the network?
• Given resource starved nature of sensor nodes,
  what encryption key technique is the right
  solution?
• Is routing security necessary in WSN
  applications?
• Is it possible to have a security that prohibits
  attacks? If yes, at what cost?
• Can traditional routing security solutions be
  viable for WSN?

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Possible Deliverables

• A security framework for WSN which will
  introduce
• A secure key management scheme for trust building
  among sensor nodes and base station.
• A secure routing protocol to develop the
  countermeasures against attacks on WSN like
  bogus routing information, HELLO floods,
  wormholes, sybil attacks, DOS, etc.

7
Tools

• TinyOS
• TOSSIM