Secure Wireless Sensor Networks with Dynamic Cryptographic Keys

ICT Centre

Secure Wireless Sensor Networks with Dynamic Cryptographic Keys

Location: Marsfield, NSW

Supervisor: Vijay Sivaraman and Diet Ostry

Project description:

Secure communication relies on secret keys. In wireless sensor networks, a common practice today is to pre-load keys into the nodes before deployment. Pre-configured keys not only make the network less robust against attacks, but also entail a high key management burden. Dynamic key generation is seen as a most promising way forward. Several schemes for dynamic key generation have been proposed (e.g. key-matrix based, multiple-space based, and polynomial based); this project will compare these techniques in terms of implementation complexity, energy efficiency, and resilience against attacks. The method of choice will be prototyped on a WSN test-bed based on commercial Crossbow MicaZ motes.

Creative inputs from the student: The tangible outcome expected from the student is a demonstration of a working, secure WSN system which dynamically generates its cryptographic keys. To that end, the student is expected to decide which key generation algorithm should be implemented by taking into account the various constraints (energy efficiency, code complexity, resilience to attacks), which will require creative and critical thinking. The student and supervisors will interact closely as a team.

What the vacation student is going to learn: The student will gain:

1) A general understanding of the current requirements, constraints, and solutions for security in wireless sensor networks,

2) A good knowledge of current theoretical approaches to dynamic key generation,

3) Familiarity with state-of-the-art commercial wireless sensor network hardware,

4) Experience with programming in the TinyOS real-time operating system,

5) Appreciation of programming techniques for implementing efficient code under tight energy and memory constraints,

6) Confidence to formulate, refine, and defend ideas in day-to-day collaboration within the research team.

Skills:

C programming, knowledge of real-time operating systems is desirable.

For further information re this project e-mail:
Vijay Sivaraman or Diet Ostry

Undergraduate Information

Last updated 29/08/06 - Yvonne.Preston@csiro.au