Secure and Efficient Key Coordination Algorithm for Line Topology Network Maintenance for Use in Maritime Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

There has been a significant increase in the proliferation and implementation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in different disciplines, including the monitoring of maritime environments, healthcare systems, and industrial sectors. It has now become critical to address the security issues of data communication while considering sensor node constraints. There are many proposed schemes, including the scheme being proposed in this paper, to ensure that there is a high level of security in WSNs. This paper presents a symmetric security scheme for a maritime coastal environment monitoring WSN. The scheme provides security for travelling packets via individually encrypted links between authenticated neighbors, thus avoiding a reiteration of a global rekeying process. Furthermore, this scheme proposes a dynamic update key based on a trusted node configuration, called a leader node, which works as a trusted third party. The technique has been implemented in real time on a Waspmote test bed sensor platform and the results from both field testing and indoor bench testing environments are discussed in this paper.

Implementing Secure Key Coordination Scheme for Line Topology Wireless Sensor Networks

“…The Secure and Efficient Key Coordination Algorithm for Line Topology Network (SEKCA) is a symmetric security scheme for a maritime coastal environment monitoring-based WSN [15,16].…”

“…Furthermore, SEKCA proposes a dynamic update key based on a trusted node configuration, called a Leader node (L n ), which works as a trusted third party. The technique has been implemented in real time on a Waspmote test bed sensor platform [16]. The deployment of a Waspmote sensor node integrated with the XBee 802.15.4 pro module in an outdoor environment using IEEE 802.15.4 /2.4GHz standard will be used to demonstrate the implementation of the algorithm.…”

“…The main idea behind this work is to allow an ordinary node to determine its authenticated neighbor without the use of complex computations. Nodes will make their decision depending on the recommendation message from the L n [16]. The L n is located at a calculated distance from the line topology of ordinary nodes.…”

“…Each ordinary node must forward the packet to its next authenticated neighbor through link encryption with its adjacent key, "k nj ". The fundamental motivation behind this strategy is to configure a network line topology with simple and scalable security algorithms [16]. Figure 5 illustrates the deployment of the nodes in our scheme and Table 2 provides details on the notation used [16].…”

“…(14). The repeater node that forwards the sensor data to the destination in the network will decrypt the information once using the shared adjacent key, "k ni " [16]. Then, to ensure complete confidentiality and privacy, before forwarding the data to the next repeater, the node will encrypt it via its adjacent key, "k nj ".…”