Integrated Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for Security Enhancement in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Rapidly expanding application areas of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that include critical civilian and military applications intensify the security concerns especially in hostile unattended environments. In order to ensure the dependability and security of continued WSN services, there is a need of alternate defense line called intrusion detection system (IDS). WSNs are comprised of a huge number of energy-constrained nodes whose battery replacement or recharging is a challenging task after their deployment. In this present work, the authors develop a simple integrated IDS scheme (SIIS) that integrates the concept of clustering along with RC4 and digital signature. For heterogeneous systems, cluster-based protocols perform best as they work on divide and conquer strategy. In order to safeguard the transmitted data, a secured, lightweight digital signature scheme that employs symmetric cryptography is used along with RC4, a synchronous stream cipher that satisfies both efficiency and security for lightweight algorithms.