SECHAM: Secure and efficient cluster head selection algorithm for MANET

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) consists of mobile devices which are connected by means of wireless links. Dynamic topology of the network and limited resources are the main issues in MANETs. Clustering of nodes help in effective utilization of resources. This paper proposes a secure and efficient cluster head selection algorithm which integrates security factor into clustering approach. In this algorithm distributed clusters are maintained using approach of k mean algorithm and cluster heads are selected by taking various parameters like connectivity and residual energy into account and only non malicious nodes do participate in the selection of cluster heads thereby improving the security. The simulation result shows that the proposed algorithm gives improved performance over conventional LID(Lowest Identifier) algorithm in terms of energy conservation by balancing the load distribution among different nodes by suitably updating cluster heads.