Study and Analysis on Security of Ad - Hoc Networks

Abstract

Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) represents a system of wireless mobile nodes that can freely and dynamically self-organize into arbitrary and temporary network topologies. Due to this dynamic nature and due to the absence of centralized infrastructure MANETs are more susceptible to attacks. Furthermore, due to these characteristics typical security systems and techniques cannot be employed in MANETs. Furthermore, since MANET?s nodes are mobile, they are power limited and computationally limited. Therefore, traditional security schemes which are computationally expensive and require more power are not feasible to be implemented in MANETs. As a result, to protect MANETs against its vulnerabilities, systems and techniques have been specially developed to suit its conditions. This study analyses the vulnerabilities of MANETs and describes various protection schemes that had been developed to overcome those. Moreover, this study analyses shortcoming and vulnerabilities of those protection schemes and finally present areas which require further research and development.