Secure Network Configuration and Route Discovery for Hybrid Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

This paper provides a novel security solution for hybrid mobile ad hoc networks. The solution relies on secure network configuration, which is based on the use of preconfigured self-certifying identifiers stored into a portable memory device by a trusted party, to be attached with ad hoc network nodes. Mutual authentication is carried between the friendly neighbour nodes based on the self-certifying identifiers, resulting a safe subnetwork inside the local ad hoc network. The route discovery is carried only in the safe subnetwork through trusted nodes, and therefore the route found always goes only via trusted nodes. The provided solution is realized as secure ad hoc routing protocol (SARP), which is evaluated in a laboratory environment using an ad hoc network consisting of 11 nodes with/without connection to static networks. The evaluations indicate sensible level of delays and performance even if security is taken on board.