An Efficient Hybrid Cryptographic Algorithm, Consuming Less Time for Exchanging Information in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Set of autonomous nodes attached together and to a base station, working in a particular system is called wireless sensor network. Due to its wireless and dynamic nature, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are easily attacked in comparison to wired networks. Now days, WSNs are not only used as routers but also working as communication end points as well as considered responsible for security of exchanging information. For fulfilling the security requirements in WSNs, scheme cryptography is widely used in which signed messages are being transferred from node to node. Cryptography is mainly classified in symmetric and asymmetric schemes. Public and private keys are used for encryption and decryption process in asymmetric key cryptography while single key is used in symmetric cryptography. Asymmetric cryptography provides high level of security and authenticity on cost of consumption of high amount of memory, power and bandwidth. On the other hand, symmetric key cryptography is considerably efficient and less resource consuming but providing less security level. Efficiency of network is considered is assumed major issue in exchanging of information in WSNs. In this paper, keeping efficiency of network in consideration, such hybrid algorithm has been suggested which satisfies the required security levels on high efficiency level. The proposed hybrid algorithm proves scalable and its performance is quite faster than single asymmetric cryptography and more secure than symmetric algorithms.