Forwarding Attacks In Wireless Sensor Networks Research Articles

GD3N: Adaptive clustering-based detection of selective forwarding attacks in WSNs under variable harsh environments

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are susceptible to numerous security threats due to their reliance on open environments and broadcast communication methods. Among these, the selective forwarding attack is notably challenging to detect. This difficulty arises from the ability of malicious nodes to imitate the behavior of normal nodes, and selectively drop data packets, which makes them virtually indistinguishable from normal ones, particularly under conditions of poor channel quality. To address this challenge with harsh environments, we introduce a novel methodology termed GD3N. This approach is underpinned by the design of a unique type of data point that encapsulates both short-term and long-term forwarding behaviors of nodes. It combines a refined version of the Gradient Diffusion Density-based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (GD-DBSCAN) algorithm, with a novel Double-Parameter Neighbor Voting (DP-NV) method based on the data set. These innovations contribute to a significant enhancement in detection accuracy and a reduction in computational complexity when compared to traditional DBSCAN and NV methods. Simulation results show that our GD3N achieves a false detection rate (FDR) of less than 2%, a missed detection rate (MDR) of below 10%, and an overall detection accuracy rate (DAR) of over 95% across various testing scenarios.

Adaptive and Channel-Aware Detection of Selective Forwarding Attacks in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are vulnerable to selective forwarding attacks that can maliciously drop a subset of forwarding packets to degrade network performance and jeopardize the information integrity. Meanwhile, due to the unstable wireless channel in WSNs, the packet loss rate during the communication of sensor nodes may be high and vary from time to time. It poses a great challenge to distinguish the malicious drop and normal packet loss. In this paper, we propose a channel-aware reputation system with adaptive detection threshold (CRS-A) to detect selective forwarding attacks in WSNs. The CRS-A evaluates the data forwarding behaviors of sensor nodes, according to the deviation of the monitored packet loss and the estimated normal loss. To optimize the detection accuracy of CRS-A, we theoretically derive the optimal threshold for forwarding evaluation, which is adaptive to the time-varied channel condition and the estimated attack probabilities of compromised nodes. Furthermore, an attack-tolerant data forwarding scheme is developed to collaborate with CRS-A for stimulating the forwarding cooperation of compromised nodes and improving the data delivery ratio of the network. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that CRS-A can accurately detect selective forwarding attacks and identify the compromised sensor nodes, while the attack-tolerant data forwarding scheme can significantly improve the data delivery ratio of the network.