Reputation in anonymous vehicular networks

Abstract

Vehicular ad hoc networks are a promising technology to increase the quality of the driving experience. However, networked vehicles will expose drivers' personal information. This can unintentionally compromise drivers' privacy. To mitigate this problem, one can rely on pseudonyms, which conceal a user's real identity. Unfortunately, pseudonyms may interfere with reputation systems that are often used to assert the reliability of the information provided by the users. In this paper, we describe a framework to combine anonymity and reputation systems. Although users are never required to disclose their real identity, even to trusted third parties, they are allowed to switch pseudonyms, and transfer the reputation they acquired in the past. Simultaneously, the framework provides additional guarantees against tampering, such as preventing users from acquiring multiple personalities.