Analyzing the Impact of Blackhole Attacks on AODV and DSR Routing Protocols’ Performance in NS-2

Abstract

Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs) are wireless networks characterized by their lack of a fixed infrastructure, allowing nodes to move freely and serve as both routers and hosts. These nodes establish virtual links and utilize routing protocols such as AODV, DSR, and DSDV to establish connections. However, security is a significant concern, with the Blackhole attack posing a notable threat, wherein a malicious node drops packets instead of forwarding them. To investigate the impact of Blackhole nodes and assess the performance of AODV and DSR protocols, the researchers employed the NS-2.35 ns-allinone2.35 version for simulation purposes. The study focused on several metrics, including average throughput, packet delivery ratio, and residual energy. The findings revealed that AODV demonstrated better energy efficiency and packet delivery compared to DSR, but DSR outperformed AODV in terms of throughput. Additionally, environmental factors and data sizes were taken into account during the analysis.