Hybrid Protection of OLSR
A Hegland, Pål Spilling, Leif Nilsen · 2006
The network layer of ad hoc networks is prone to attacks. Insertion of false routing information is inherently easy unless the routing messages are authenticated. Hence, protection of the routing protocol is a prerequisite for a reliable network service. The wireless broadcast media calls for bandwidth e¢ cient solutions. This paper proposes a hybrid protection scheme for the ad hoc Optimized Link State Routing protocol (OLSR). Identity-based signatures are combined with hash chains. Only some messages are signed. Unsigned messages include a hitherto undisclosed value from the hash chain as a lightweight proof of authenticity. The result is a bandwidth e¢ cient scheme providing adequate protection.