An efficient authentication strategy for reprogramming of sensor networks

Remote reprogramming of sensor nodes through the wireless channel is a very important function for efficient sensor networks management. Traditional reprogramming protocols do not provide any security scheme, hence make the sensor network vulnerable to some kinds of simple attacks; new secure reprogramming protocols use asymmetric cryptography schemes needing many computational overhead and large memory size, may not be acceptable for wireless sensor node. An efficient authentication strategy for reprogramming of sensor networks is presented in this paper; it hides a symmetric key with code attestation running on a legitimate node and base station separately, and has dynamic characteristics through transmitting a parameter from the base station to the sensor. By means of integrating this strategy with existing reprogramming protocol MNP, this strategy can ensure security of reprogramming at lower communication cost and short delay through simulation.