Energy-efficient relaxed rekeying policies for distributed key management in sensor networks. (10th December 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jibi, Abraham; Ramanatha, K.S.
• Is Part Of: International journal of ad hoc and ubiquitous computing. Volume 4:Number 1(2009)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2008-12-10
• Subjects: wireless sensor networks -- WSNs -- wireless networks -- base station -- cluster head -- secret keys -- distributed key management -- rekeying policies -- group communication -- security -- node capture attack -- energy efficiency; Ubiquitous computing -- Periodicals; Embedded computer systems -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing -- Periodicals; Wireless communication systems -- Periodicals; Computer architecture -- Periodicals; 004.2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-8225

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a basic key management protocol to generate and distribute the keys required for a secure group communication system, which also preserves the backward and forward secrecies. We devise a few relaxed policies for rekeying and formulate an enhanced set of protocols for key management. All the communications in the protocols are properly authenticated using Elliptic Curve Digital Signature scheme. The relaxed protocols reduce the number of rekeying to almost 25%, thus saving energy. The security analysis shows that our protocols can withstand several possible security attacks especially the serious one, the node capture attack.