Multi-channel clustering based anti-jamming technique for wireless sensor networks by localizing jammer

Abstract

Jamming attack is a serious security threat for Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) in which adversaries intentionally emit radio frequency signals to corrupt ongoing transmission. Several anti-jamming techniques have been devised as countermeasures against jamming attacks. These techniques detect jamming relying on the parameters such as Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Packet Send Ratio (PSR), Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). On the other hand, energy efficiency is the major issue for WSN and it is a dominating factor for network lifetime. To prolong network lifetime, WSN is organized into clusters where each cluster head transmits aggregated data to the base station directly or using multi-hop. In this research work, jamming attack in a clustering based WSN is investigated. Jamming attack in a clustered WSN affects drastically and makes clusters ineffective. As a result, WSN may experience delay in transmission, and reduction in network throughput. To overcome jamming attacks, an effective jamming localizing scheme is proposed where parameters such as Jamming Signal Strength (JSS), PDR, etc., are considered in detecting jamming attacks and then localize the jammed region by finding convex hull using detected jammed nodes. To continue transmission in presence of jamming, a cluster-based multi-channel assignment technique is also proposed to avoid the channels that are thwarting transmission efficiency and select a new channel for the jammed cluster dynamically. The simulation results reveal the accuracy of the proposed scheme in identifying the presence of the jammer in the network,reduction in packet loss due to jamming attack, and better throughput.