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Sajal Das

Vulnerability Analysis of Wireless Sensor Networks:
Challenges and Solutions

Sajal K. Das
NSF Program Director and Director,
Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking (CReWMaN)
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have tremendous potential for use in securing critical infrastructures and public safety via situation monitoring, data gathering/aggregation, and intelligence extraction from physical phenomena. Thus, providing high information assurance in WSNs is crucial, more so in unattended and hostile environments. However, sensor nodes are extremely vulnerable to adversaries, leading to node compromisation or replication. The consequence can be catastrophic as a compromised or replicated node can further launch internal attacks such as forged data, fake commands, and virus spreading. This calls for rigorous mathematical models for vulnerability analysis in WSNs.

In this talk, we will develop a novel multi-layer integrated framework to effectively secure WSNs. Specifically, we will characterize and quantify trust/reputation to detect malicious nodes; model propagation of compromised nodes to prevent possible outbreaks; and detect replicated nodes even in the presence of mobility. Our framework will be based on a rich set of theoretical and practical design principles, such as trust model, information theory, epidemic theory, sequential hypothesis testing, and game theory. The talk will be concluded with open issues in securing WSNs.

Biography

Dr. Sajal K. Das is currently a Program Director at NSF in the Computer and Network Systems Division. He is also a University Distinguished Scholar Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and the Founding Director of the Center for Research in Wireless Mobility and Networking (CReWMaN) at the University of Texas at Arlington. His current research interests include mobile wireless and sensor networks, security, smart environments, pervasive computing, applied graph theory and game theory. He published over 400 articles and 37 book chapters, and holds 5 US patents.

He coauthored two books: "Smart Environments: Technology, Protocols, and Applications" (Wiley, 2005), and "Mobile Agents in Distributed Computing and Networking" (Wiley, 2009). Dr. Das is a recipient of several Best Paper Awards including such conference as EWSN'08, IEEE PerCom'06, and ACM MobiCom'99. He is also a recipient of the IEEE Computer Society 2009 Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Educator Award (2009), Lockheed Martin Teaching Excellence Award (2009), UTA Academy of Distinguished Scholars Award (2006), University Award for Distinguished Record of Research (2005), and College of Engineering Research Excellence Award (2003).

Dr. Das serves as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Pervasive and Mobile Computing journal, and Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, ACM/Springer Wireless Networks, IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, Journal of Peer-to-Peer Networking, and Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing. He is the founder of IEEE WoWMoM and IEEE PerCom conferences. He has served as General Chair, Program Chair and TPC member of numerous IEEE and ACM conferences. He is a senior member of IEEE.