A survey on pseudonym changing strategies for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks

The initial phase of the deployment of Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) has begun and many research challenges still need to be addressed. Location privacy continues to be in the top of these challenges. Indeed, both of academia and industry agreed to apply the pseudonym changing approach as a solution to protect the location privacy of VANETs'users. However, due to the pseudonyms linking attack, a simple changing of pseudonym shown to be inefficient to provide the required protection. For this reason, many pseudonym changing strategies have been suggested to provide an effective pseudonym changing. Unfortunately, the development of an effective pseudonym changing strategy for VANETs is still an open issue. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey and classification of pseudonym changing strategies. We then discuss and compare them with respect to some relevant criteria. Finally, we highlight some current researches, and open issues and give some future directions

A distributed mix-context-based method for location privacy in road networks

Preserving location privacy is increasingly an essential concern in Vehicular Adhoc Networks (VANETs). Vehicles broadcast beacon messages in an open form that contains information including vehicle identity, speed, location, and other headings. An adversary may track the various locations visited by a vehicle using sensitive information transmitted in beacons such as vehicle identity and location. By matching the vehicle identity used in beacon messages at various locations, an adversary learns the location history of a vehicle. This compromises the privacy of the vehicle driver. In existing research work, pseudonyms are used in place of the actual vehicle identity in the beacons. Pseudonyms should be changed regularly to safeguard the location privacy of vehicles. However, applying simple change in pseudonyms does not always provide location privacy. Existing schemes based on mix zones operate efficiently in higher traffic environments but fail to provide privacy in lower vehicle traffic densities. In this paper, we take the problem of location privacy in diverse vehicle traffic densities. We propose a new Crowd-based Mix Context (CMC) privacy scheme that provides location privacy as well as identity protection in various vehicle traffic densities. The pseudonym changing process utilizes context information of road such as speed, direction and the number of neighbors in transmission range for the anonymisation of vehicles, adaptively updating pseudonyms based on the number of a vehicle neighbors in the vicinity. We conduct formal modeling and specification of the proposed scheme using High-Level Petri Nets (HPLN). Simulation results validate the effectiveness of CMC in terms of location anonymisation, the probability of vehicle traceability, computation time (cost) and effect on vehicular applications

Enhancing Unlinkability in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Communication messages in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) can be used to track movement of vehicles. In this paper, we address the problem of movement tracking and enhance location privacy without affecting security and safety of vehicles. By considering unique characteristics of VANETs, we firstly propose a synchronized pseudonym changing protocol based on the concept of forming groups among neighboring vehicles. Secondly, we analytically evaluate the anonymity and unlinkability of the proposed protocol. Finally, we do a series of simulations to evaluate the performance of our protocol in real VANET environments such as Manhattan and Urban. Simulation results show that our protocol is feasible and produces excellent performances. The main advantages of our protocol compared with the existing approaches include: 1) it makes larger anonymity set and higher entropy; 2) it reduces the tracking probability; 3) it can be used in both safety and non-safety communications; and 4) Vehicles need not suspend regular communication for changing pseudonyms

Enhancing Unlinkability in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Communication messages in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) can be used to track movement of vehicles. In this paper, we address the problem of movement tracking and enhance location privacy without affecting security and safety of vehicles. By considering unique characteristics of VANETs, we firstly propose a synchronized pseudonym changing protocol based on the concept of forming groups among neighboring vehicles. Secondly, we analytically evaluate the anonymity and unlinkability of the proposed protocol. Finally, we do a series of simulations to evaluate the performance of our protocol in real VANET environments such as Manhattan and Urban. Simulation results show that our protocol is feasible and produces excellent performances. The main advantages of our protocol compared with the existing approaches include: 1) it makes larger anonymity set and higher entropy; 2) it reduces the tracking probability; 3) it can be used in both safety and non-safety communications; and 4) Vehicles need not suspend regular communication for changing pseudonyms

State of the Art and Future Perspectives in Smart and Sustainable Urban Development

This book contributes to the conceptual and practical knowledge pools in order to improve the research and practice on smart and sustainable urban development by presenting an informed understanding of the subject to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. This book presents contributions—in the form of research articles, literature reviews, case reports, and short communications—offering insights into the smart and sustainable urban development by conducting in-depth conceptual debates, detailed case study descriptions, thorough empirical investigations, systematic literature reviews, or forecasting analyses. This way, the book forms a repository of relevant information, material, and knowledge to support research, policymaking, practice, and the transferability of experiences to address urbanization and other planetary challenges