Route discovery in insecure mobile ad hoc network

The characteristics of a mobile ad hoc network such as dynamic topology, shared wireless medium and open peer to peer network architecture pose various security challenges. To perform multi hop communication in a dynamic topology nodes execute special routing protocols. Each node perform the function of a mobile router and directs packets to other nodes in the network for accurate functioning of the network. It is imperative that all these nodes take part in routing function. How ever some nodes are always in a network who can launch attacks against different network services including the routing process. This paper gives simulation study that identifies security issues that are specific to MANET. The effect of these security aspects on network performance such as Route discovery of AODV protocol is illustrated. As the Route discovery is done at the early stage of protocol design when route request floods to all nodes. Hence security issues have to be taken into account. This paper focuses the attention on the evaluation of network performance for AODV especially in terms of Route discovery, throughput and delay. When the percentage of nodes behave selfishly its better and worst effect of these nodes on protocol performance is shown by Simulation.