An Authentication Based Approach for Prevention of Spectrum Sensing Data Falsification Attacks in Cognitive Radio Network

Abstract

This is the era of Intelligent Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) technology that provides the available spectrum with efficient utilization. Cognitive Radio (CR) technology must promise to allow interference-free spectrum access by users. The paper discusses the several attacks and motives of attacks. The authentication mechanism role to prevent the attacks for hassle-free spectrum utilization is demonstrated. In this paper, resolving the cognitive network security issues by the authentication mechanism and the methods and need of authentication is discussed. This paper addresses the research challenges in the way of securing the CRN and countermeasures in CRN security strategies. Spectrum sensing data falsification (SSDF) attack is most disruptive in which the malicious users degrade the decision-making process by sending the false sensing reports to data fusion center’s thus preventing honest users from utilizing the spectrum. In this paper, to counter the SSDF attack, the trust-based security mechanism is demonstrated to authenticate the honest users and it is observed that the proposed framework in the MATLAB environment is efficient and able to detect malicious users. CR technology is the strategy applied to the spectrum to make it efficient for wireless communication. The strategy is an intelligent way to access the spectrum as it can learn its environment and make decisions by easy adaptation of operating parameters. The initial step is to sense the spectrum available further steps are spectrum decision making, spectrum management, and spectrum mobility. The network is vulnerable to various attacks on spectrum sensing and policy protocols which lead to disturbing functionality of CR technology. The defence mechanism based on public-key cryptography is proposed in which the Primary User (PU) is authenticated by appending signature provided to PU signal. Authentication with a tag to the primary users is another perspective proposed. CRN technology should provide integrity, confidentiality and authenticity to the users.