Cluster Based Intrusion Detection Technique for Wireless Networks

Wireless networks are vulnerable to spoofing attacks, which allows for many other forms of attacks on the networks. Although th e identity of a node can be verified through cryptographic authentication, authentication is not always possible because it requires key management and additional infrastructural overhead. In this paper we propose a method for both detect ing spoofing attacks, as well as locating the positions of adversaries performing the attacks. We propose to use the spatial correlation of received signal strength (RSS) inherited from wireless nodes to detect the spoofing attacks. We then formulate the problem of determin ing the number of attackers as a multiclass detection problem. Cluster - based mechanisms are developed to determine the number of attackers. When the training data are available, we explore using the Support Vector Machines (SVM) method to further improve t he accuracy of determining the number of attackers. In addition, we developed an integrated detection and localization system that can localize the positions of multiple attackers. We evaluated our techniques through two test beds using both an 802.11 ( Wi - Fi ) network and an 802.15.4 network in two real office buildings. Our experimental results show that our proposed methods can achieve over 90 percent Hit Rate and Precision when determining the number of attackers. Our localizatio n results using a represen tative set of algorithms provide strong evidence of high accuracy of localizing multiple adversaries

Improved Wireless Security through Physical Layer Protocol Manipulation and Radio Frequency Fingerprinting

Wireless networks are particularly vulnerable to spoofing and route poisoning attacks due to the contested transmission medium. Traditional bit-layer defenses including encryption keys and MAC address control lists are vulnerable to extraction and identity spoofing, respectively. This dissertation explores three novel strategies to leverage the wireless physical layer to improve security in low-rate wireless personal area networks. The first, physical layer protocol manipulation, identifies true transceiver design within remote devices through analysis of replies in response to packets transmitted with modified physical layer headers. Results herein demonstrate a methodology that correctly differentiates among six IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver classes with greater than 99% accuracy, regardless of claimed bit-layer identity. The second strategy, radio frequency fingerprinting, accurately identifies the true source of every wireless transmission in a network, even among devices of the same design and manufacturer. Results suggest that even low-cost signal collection receivers can achieve greater than 90% authentication accuracy within a defense system based on radio frequency fingerprinting. The third strategy, based on received signal strength quantification, can be leveraged to rapidly locate suspicious transmission sources and to perform physical security audits of critical networks. Results herein reduce mean absolute percentage error of a widely-utilized distance estimation model 20% by examining signal strength measurements from real-world networks in a military hospital and a civilian hospital

IEEE 802.15.4 Wireless Security: Self-Assessment Frameworks

This thesis analyzes the security of networks built upon the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, specifically in regard to the ability of an attacker to manipulate such networks under real-world conditions. The author presents a set of tools, both hardware and software, that advance the state-of-the-art in reconnaissance and site surveying, intelligent packet generation, and launching of attacks. Specifically, tools provide increased hardware support for the KillerBee toolkit, a Scapy layer for forming 802.15.4 packets, reflexive jamming of packets, and other research enablers. This work aims to advance the ability of security auditors to understand the threats to IEEE 802.15.4 networks by providing auditors usable and low-cost tools to carry out vulnerability assessments

Survey on Security Management of Multiple Spoofing Attackers in Wireless Networks

Wireless spoofing attacks are simple to introduce and can importantly impact the performance of networks. In this paper, we propose to use spatial information a physical property related to every node, complex to mispresent and self reliant on cryptography, as the initializing for detecting spoofing attacks determining the number of attackers when multiple opponent masquerading as the same node identity and localizing multiple adversaries We propose to use the spatial correlation of received signal strength (RSS) inherited from wireless nodes to detect the spoofing attacks. For determining the number of attackers we are using cluster based mechanism. To localize the positions of multiple attackers, we have developed an integrated detection and localization system. The generated localization results with a representative set of algorithms provide strong evidence of high accuracy of localizing multiple adversaries. As the wireless networks are easily susceptible for various types of spoofing attacks, basically this paper focuses on Identity-based spoofing attacks and the enhanced and efficient techniques to secure from such attacks

Intrusion Detection for Smart Grid Communication Systems

Transformation of the traditional power grid into a smart grid hosts an array of vulnerabilities associated with communication networks. Furthermore, wireless mediums used throughout the smart grid promote an environment where Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are very effective. In wireless mediums, jamming and spoofing attack techniques diminish system operations thus affecting smart grid stability and posing an immediate threat to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) of the smart grid. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) serve as a primary defense in mitigating network vulnerabilities. In IDS, signatures created from historical data are compared to incoming network traffic to identify abnormalities. In this thesis, intrusion detection algorithms are proposed for attack detection in smart grid networks by means of physical, data link, network, and session layer analysis. Irregularities in these layers provide insight to whether the network is experiencing genuine or malicious activity

Radio Frequency Fingerprinting Techniques through Preamble Modification in IEEE 802.11b

Wireless local area networks are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks due to their contested transmission medium. Access point spoofing, route poisoning, and cryptographic attacks are some of the many mature threats faced by wireless networks. Recent work investigates physical-layer features such as received signal strength or radio frequency fingerprinting to identify and localize malicious devices. This thesis demonstrates a novel and complementary approach to exploiting physical-layer differences among wireless devices that is more energy efficient and invariant with respect to the environment than traditional fingerprinting techniques. Specifically, this methodology exploits subtle design differences among different transceiver hardware types. A software defined radio captures packets with standard-length IEEE 802.11b preambles, manipulates the recorded preambles by shortening their length, then replays the altered packets toward the transceivers under test. Wireless transceivers vary in their ability to receive packets with preambles shorter than the standard. By analyzing differences in packet reception with respect to preamble length, this methodology distinguishes amongst eight transceiver types from three manufacturers. All tests to successfully enumerate the transceivers achieve accuracy rates greater than 99%, while transmitting less than 60 test packets. This research extends previous work illustrating RF fingerprinting techniques through IEEE 802.15.4 wireless protocols. The results demonstrate that preamble manipulation is effective for multi-factor device authentication, network intrusion detection, and remote transceiver type fingerprinting in IEEE 802.11b

Airborne Wireless Sensor Networks for Airplane Monitoring System

In traditional airplane monitoring system (AMS), data sensed from strain, vibration, ultrasound of structures or temperature, and humidity in cabin environment are transmitted to central data repository via wires. However, drawbacks still exist in wired AMS such as expensive installation and maintenance, and complicated wired connections. In recent years, accumulating interest has been drawn to performing AMS via airborne wireless sensor network (AWSN) system with the advantages of flexibility, low cost, and easy deployment. In this review, we present an overview of AMS and AWSN and demonstrate the requirements of AWSN for AMS particularly. Furthermore, existing wireless hardware prototypes and network communication schemes of AWSN are investigated according to these requirements. This paper will improve the understanding of how the AWSN design under AMS acquires sensor data accurately and carries out network communication efficiently, providing insights into prognostics and health management (PHM) for AMS in future