Detecting Denial Of Service Attack In Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), is composed of several spatially distributed nodes, and connected to one or more sensors, which monitor a large physical environment. The nodes (wireless devices) are typically small in size and capable of performing sensing, on-board processing, communication and storage. WSNs [1] offer economically viable solutions for a variety of applications such as current implementations to monitor factory instrumentation, pollution levels, freeway traffic, and the structural integrity of buildings. Other applications include climate sensing and control in office buildings, and home environmental sensing systems for temperature, light, moisture, and motion. The Development of wireless sensor networks resulted mainly from the military applications [2] such as battlefield surveillance. In 1978, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) organized the Distributed Sensor Nets Workshop, focusing on sensor network research challenges such as networking technologies, signal processing techniques, and distributed algorithms. DARPA also operated the Distributed Sensor Networks (DSN) program in the early 1980s, which was then followed by the Sensor Information Technology (SensIT) program. Currently, WSN is viewed as one of the most important technologies for the 21st century (21 Ideas for the 21st Century, 1999). WSN is becoming a more commonplace and can be found in research projects and civilian applications as well as defense projects. The sensor nodes are often deployed to remote and inaccessible areas and thereby increase their exposure to malicious intrusions and attacks. WSN is therefore faced with several security challenges when deployed to remote areas. One of the most challenging security threats is a Denial of Service Attack (DoS) which is the result of any action that prevents any part of a WSN from functioning correctly or in a timely manner [3]. It can be viewed as a malicious attempt to make network resource unavailable to legitimate users, thus is considered one of the most general and dangerous attacks endangering network security.