A Low-Cost Solution for Frequent Symmetric Key Exchange in Ad-hoc Networks

: Next to authentication, secure key exchange is considered the most critical and complex issue regarding ad-hoc network security. We present a low-cost, (i.e. low hardware-complexity) solution for feasible frequent symmetric key exchange in adhoc networks, based on a Tree Parity Machine Rekeying Architecture. A key exchange can be performed within a few milliseconds, given practical wireless communication channels and their limited bandwidths. A flexible rekeying functionality enables the full exploitation of the achievable key exchange rates. Characteristics of a standardcell ASIC design realisation as IP-core in ¢ £ ¥ § © -technology are evaluated. 1 Key Exchange in Ad-hoc Networks Authentication and key exchange are of supreme importance with regard to security and secure routing in ad-hoc networks. Such networks typically lack infrastructure, which penalises approaches needing a central authority like a trust centre or another third trusted party as e.g. in ID-based cryptosy...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: GI
• Authors: Markus Volkmer, Sebastian Wallner
• Keywords: Ad-Hoc Networks, GI 2004, Key Exchange, Secure Key Exchange, Theoretical Computer Science