A Sybil Attack Detection Scheme for a Centralized Clustering-Based Hierarchical Network

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have experienced phenomenal growth over the past decade. They are typically deployed in remote and hostile environments for monitoring applications and data collection. Miniature sensor nodes collaborate with each other to provide information on an unprecedented temporal and spatial scale. The resource-constrained nature of sensor nodes along with human-inaccessible terrains poses various security challenges to these networks at different layers. In this paper, we propose a novel detection scheme for Sybil attack in a centralized clustering-based hierarchical network. Sybil nodes are detected prior to cluster formation to prevent their forged identities from participating in cluster head selection. Only legitimate nodes are elected as cluster heads to enhance utilization of the resources. The proposed scheme requires collaboration of any two high energy nodes to analyze received signal strengths of neighboring nodes. The simulation results show that our proposed scheme significantly improves network lifetime in comparison with existing clustering-based hierarchical routing protocols.