Scientific African (Sep 2024)
An energy efficient authentication scheme for cluster-based wireless IoT sensor networks
Abstract
Wireless Internet of Things (IoT) sensor networks (WITSN) play a pivotal role in modern society, facilitating a myriad of applications ranging from smart homes to industrial automation. Therefore, safeguarding these networks against security threats is paramount to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data transmitted within them. However, WITSNs face escalating security threats due to their diverse structures and platforms. Existing literature has identified these vulnerabilities but lacks comprehensive solutions to address them effectively. To bridge this gap, this paper proposes a novel security approach termed Randomized Bi-Phase Authentication Scheme (RBAS), which integrates digital watermarking techniques to fortify both external and internal network security. RBAS not only tackles data availability, confidentiality, and authenticity challenges prevalent in WITSNs but also strives to maintain a delicate equilibrium between robust security measures and energy efficiency. Key contributions of this work include the meticulous examination and validation of the integration of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) codes in IoT sensor network authentication, demonstrating their efficacy in error detection through simulations. Furthermore, RBAS employs advanced hashing, cryptography, and dynamic verification codes to ensure strong error detection and data authenticity, leveraging robust CRC codes and randomization to thwart potential attacks. The scheme's complexity acts as a deterrent against manipulation, while its cluster awareness enhances adaptability, and cryptographic principles bolster overall security. Extensive performance evaluation using the Network Simulator-2 (NS2) reveals significant benefits of RBAS, including an 8 % reduction in power consumption and a 7 % increase in network longevity. Notably, RBAS surpasses existing solutions with a 14 % reduction in dropping ratio and an 8 % decrease in latency. The success of RBAS stems from its innovative utilization of lightweight watermarking techniques and cluster-based routing, enabling proactive identification of data tampering and thereby enhancing the network's overall security posture. This pioneering work not only advances the state of the art in WITSN security but also holds profound implications for the practical deployment of secure and efficient IoT sensor networks in real-world scenarios.
