A Device-Based Secure Scheme Against PUEA Attacks in Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks

Abstract: Due to the resource-constrained sensor motes and critical security concerns, feasible wireless sensor-based systems require more breakthroughs in terms of network architecture, system design, and data processing techniques. In this paper, we incorporate the strengths of cognitive radio and the physical property of a device to improve the performance of a cognitive radio sensor network (CRSN) and resolve the security problem, considering one of the most destructive attacks in CRSNs called the primary user emulation attack (PUEA). Accordingly, we aim to develop a fully distributed method against PUEA attacks from two perspectives: (1) spectrum management with separate sensing and (2) device-based node identification, in order to explore the trade-off between spectrum management and the successful detection rate of malicious nodes. The proposed distributed secure algorithm with the knowledge of separate sensing allows the sensing sensors and the tasking nodes to perform a detection and identification mechanism such that dynamic spectrum management and correct spectrum decision can be achieved. The experimental results show that the proposed secure system provides a feasible way against the PUEA attacks.