A Cluster-Based Mitigation Strategy Against Security Attacks in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) applications range across distinct application comprising of event detection at real-time. WSNs can be deployed for not only mobile nodes but also for static sensor nodes (SNs) for various applications which may include health care system, smart parking, environmental monitoring etc. Sensor nodes in WSN are constrained in terms of energy contents of each node and can be accessible by other nodes in a wireless medium are more likely to be susceptible to various categories of attacks. Wireless Network are more likely prone to various kinds of security attacks, one such type of attack caused by a malicious attacker, which can result to decay in the lifetime of the network and an adverse scenario can even lead to congestion in the entire network. This paper presents the overview of various attacks and their consequences on different layers and evaluates defense strategy used to mitigate the various categories of attacks on Wireless Sensor Networks. This study proposes a cluster-based approach for each node of a WSN where the nodes of network constrained by energy can organize and perform network duties as per the network performance for this one node performs the role of cluster head (CH) which is elected on the basis of the "Reputation" of a node which is an indicator of nodes individual behavior in the network and "Net_Credit_Score" which determines the cooperating behavior of sensor node in the cluster. Further, this study highlights few parameters which can be implemented to further enhance the defense strategy by taking into account the factors such as Cluster count, Stability factor of both the Cluster and Cluster Head and Intra-Cluster topology which can be crucial. This will result in formulating a road map for designing a secure and resistant reputation-based system for WSN to overcome the various security related attacks.