A User-Controllable Multi-Layer Secure Algorithm for MANET

This paper introduces a User-Controllable MultiLayer Secure Algorithm (UMSA) to authenticate the MANET nodes before joining an existing MANET or formation of a new MANET by using the information from the user, the application layer, the network layer and the data-link layer. Currently, the authentication and the routing of the MANET nodes are two distinct processes. The proposed UMSA aims to embed the security information into the routing algorithm, thus combining the authentication and routing processes without incurring significant overheads. The MANET nodes are only allowed to form a MANET if the nodes are identified with a unique User-Controllable Identification, running users´ pre-agreed application(s), and are in the list of permitted nodes, thus saving resources in the nodes by maintaining a smaller routing information. The experimental results show that the UMSA enhances the security of the MANET without negatively impacting the performance of the routing algorithm.