Abstract:
DTNs (Delay Tolerant Networks) or opportunistic networks represent a class of networks
in which a continuous end-to-end connectivity in the network may not be quite possible.
Because DTN is a well-recognized networking concept, it has attracted extensive
attentions from both the system designers and also application developers.
Security is a major barrier to wide-scale deployment of the DTNs, though it has gained
little attention so far. Just like traditional mobile ad hoc networks, the multi-hop
transmission and open channel have made DTNs vulnerable to security threats, such as
unauthorized access message modification or injection attack. The security characteristics
of DTNs include frequent disconnectivity, long round-trip delay, opportunistic routing,
fragmentation, as well as limited storage capability and computational delays; make the
existing security protocols unsuitable for DTNs. Thus, new security protocols should be
implemented; that are stringent and efficient in securing DTNs.
