Issues Related to Network Security Attacks in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET)

Abstract

Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is a collection of communication devices or nodes that wish to communicate without any fixed infrastructure. The nodes in MANET themselves are responsible for dynamically discovering other nodes to communicate. A number of challenges like open peer-to-peer network architecture, stringent resource constraints, shared wireless medium, dynamic network topology etc. are posed in MANET. In this research, we identify the existent security threats an ad hoc network faces, the security services required to be achieved and the countermeasures for attacks in each layer. To accomplish our goal, we have done literature survey in gathering information related to various types of attacks and solutions, as well as we have made comparative study to address the threats in different layers. Finally, we have identified the challenges and proposed solutions to overcome them. There is no general algorithm that suits well against the most commonly known attacks such as wormhole, rushing attack, etc.