Lightweight Encryption for Data Security in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) require secure data transmission under strict resource constraints. This paper proposes LWC-WSN, a lightweight symmetric encryption scheme tailored for low-power sensor nodes. It features a 64-bit Feistel cipher and a truncated SHA-256 MAC, relying only on XOR, rotation, and small S-box operations. A dynamic key management protocol enables efficient session key updates and resynchronization. The scheme is implemented in a Python-based simulated WSN with 50 Docker-emulated nodes. Compared with AES-128 and LEA, LWC-WSN achieves lower encryption time, energy consumption, and communication overhead. Security simulations demonstrate strong resistance to differential, linear, and replay attacks. Implementation analysis confirms compatibility with embedded platforms such as TelosB and STM32. LWC-WSN provides a practical balance of performance, scalability, and security, making it suitable for real-world WSN deployments in energy-constrained environments.