Report on a Working Session on Security in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

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Enforcing Service Availability in Mobile Ad-Hoc WANs

In this paper, we address the problem of service availability in mobile ad-hoc WANs. We present a secure mechanism to stimulate end users to keep their devices turned on, to refrain from overloading the network, and to thwart tampering aimed at converting the device into a ``selfish`` one. Our solution is based on the application of a tamper resistant security module in each device and cryptographic protection of messages

A Pessimistic Approach to Trust in Mobile Agent Platforms

To be provided later

A Survey of Interdependent Information Security Games

Risks faced by information system operators and users are not only determined by their own security posture, but are also heavily affected by the security-related decisions of others. This interdependence between information system operators and users is a fundamental property that shapes the efficiency of security defense solutions. Game theory is the most appropriate method to model the strategic interactions between these participants. In this survey, we summarize game-theoretic interdependence models, characterize the emerging security inefficiencies, and present mechanisms to improve the security decisions of the participants. We focus our attention on games with interdependent defenders and do not discuss two-player attackerdefender games. Our goal is to distill the main insights from the state-of-the-art and to identify the areas that need more attention from the research community

Mobility Helps Peer-to-Peer Security

We propose a straightforward technique to provide peer-to-peer security in mobile networks. We show that far from being a hurdle, mobility can be exploited to set up security associations among users. We leverage on the temporary vicinity of users, during which appropriate cryptographic protocols are run. We illustrate the operation of the solution in two scenarios, both in the framework of mobile ad hoc networks. In the first scenario, we consider fully self-organized security: users authenticate each other by visual contact and by the activation of an appropriate secure side channel of their personal device; we show that the process can be fuelled by taking advantage of trusted acquaintances In the second scenario, we assume the presence of an off-line certification authority and we show how mobility helps to solve the security-routing interdependency cycle; in this case, the security protocol runs over one-hop radio links. We then show that the proposed solution is generic: it can be deployed on any mobile network and it can be implemented either with symmetric or with asymmetric cryptography. We provide a detailed performance analysis by studying the behavior of the solution on various mobility models

Networks of intergenic long-range enhancers and snpRNAs drive castration-resistant phenotype of prostate cancer and contribute to pathogenesis of multiple common human disorders

Biological and mechanistic relevance of intergenic disease-associated genetic loci (IDAGL) containing highly statistically significant disease-linked SNPs remains unknown. Here we present the experimental and clinical evidence revealing important role of IDAGL in human diseases. Targeted RT-PCR screen coupled with sequencing of purified PCR products detects widespread transcription at multiple intergenic disease-associated genomic loci (IDAGL) and identifies 96 small non-coding trans-regulatory RNAs of ~ 100-300 nt in length containing SNPs associated with 21 common human disorders (snpRNAs). Functionality of snpRNAs is supported by multiple independent lines of experimental evidence demonstrating their cell-type-specific expression and evolutionary conservation of sequences, genomic coordinates, and biological effects. Analysis of chromatin state signatures, expression profiling experiments using microarray and Q-PCR technologies, and luciferase reporter assays indicate that many IDAGL are Polycomb-regulated long-range enhancers. Expression of snpRNAs in human and mouse cells markedly affects cellular behavior and induces allele-specific clinically-relevant phenotypic changes: NLRP1-locus snpRNAs exert regulatory effects on monocyte/macrophage trans-differentiation, induce prostate cancer (PC) susceptibility snpRNAs, and transform low-malignancy hormone-dependent human PC cells into highly malignant androgen-independent PC. Q-PCR analysis and luciferase reporter assays demonstrate that snpRNA sequences represent allele-specific “decoy” targets of microRNAs which function as SNP-allele-specific modifiers of microRNA expression and activity. We demonstrate that trans-acting RNA molecules facilitating androgen depletion-independent growth (ADIG) in vitro and castration-resistant (CR) phenotype in vivo of PC contain intergenic 8q24-locus SNP variants which were recently linked with increased risk of developing PC. Expression level of 8q24-locus PC susceptibility snpRNAs is regulated by NLRP1-locus snpRNAs, which are transcribed from the intergenic long-range enhancer sequence located in 17p13 region at ~ 30 kb distance from the NLRP1 gene. Q-PCR analysis of clinical PC samples reveals markedly increased snpRNA expression levels in tumor tissues compared to the adjacent normal prostate [122-fold and 45-fold in Gleason 7 tumors (p = 0.03); 370-fold and 127-fold in Gleason 8 tumors (p = 0.0001); for NLRP1-locus and 8q24-locus SnpRNAs, respectively]. Highly concordant expression profiles of the NLRP1-locus snpRNAs and 8q24 CR-locus snpRNAs (r = 0.896; p < 0.0001) in clinical PC samples and experimental evidence of trans-regulatory effects of NLRP1-locus snpRNAs on expression of 8q24-locus SnpRNAs indicate that ADIG and CR phenotype of human PC cells can be triggered by RNA molecules transcribed from the NLRP1-locus intergenic enhancer and down-stream activation of the 8q24-locus snpRNAs. Our results define the intergenic NLRP1 and 8q24 regions as regulatory loci of ADIG and CR phenotype of human PC, reveal previously unknown molecular links between the innate immunity/inflammasome system and development of hormone-independent PC, and identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets exploration of which should be highly beneficial for clinical management of PC