Mobile agent security based on trust model in MANET

Abstract

There is an emerging trend of using mobile agents for wireless network applications. For instance mobile agents can be used to protect the mobile ad hoc network (MANET) itself by using agent based IDS or IPS.In this paper we consider security issues that need to be addressed before multi-agent systems in general, and mobile agents in particular, can be used for a broad range of commercial applications for MANET. Here we propose a distributed scheme to protect both the agents and the host platforms (running at the nodes) from possible threats. This paper seeks to form a distributed trust model of the network. Here the agents and the host platforms work together to so that each trusted node may form a consistent trust view of the network. Each agent is given with a list of nodes (host platforms) to visit by their owner (a node). The agents, while migrating share their view of the trusted hosts to the platform they currently reside. The agents use combination of encryption and digital signature (to create hash code) to provide privacy and authentication services.Here smooth random mobility model is used to generate node mobility. The connectivity between the nodes is decided by the Two-Ray model of radio propagation in order to consider multipath propagation effect. The effect of environmental noise is also studied. Our proposed algorithm is simulated using java and the results show the robustness of our proposed scheme. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.