Security Issues in Dynamic Spectrum Access
9 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2012
Date Written: August 15, 2009
Abstract
Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) systems are being developed to improve spectrum utilization. DSA can be employed either using market-based or MAC based approaches. An important challenge for both the market-based and MAC-based DSA methods is security. Most of the research for either type of DSA assumes that the participants involved are honest and cooperative and that no malicious adversaries will attack or exploit the network. Some recent research efforts have focused on studying security issues in cognitive radios but there are still significant security challenges in both market-based and MAC-based DSA that have not been addressed.
In this paper we focus on security issues in both market-based and MAC-based DSA and suggest some possible approaches to address them. We address MAC-based DSA security challenges such as Denial of Service (DoS) attacks on primary and secondary users, spoofing, etc. We also identify various attacks (e.g., DoS attacks, system penetration, repudiation, spoofing, authorization violation, malware infection, data modification, etc.) and suggest various approaches to address these for Market-based DSA networks. We conclude that convincing spectrum owners to implement secure DSA on market-based DSA is more likely since the service providers are being compensated. In doing so, service providers would allow for competition in business between the various providers as they are offering a more attractive, (secure) product for a given price. This option is a more “business friendly” approach than the simple MAC-based DSA in which, though the services are free, they are not regulated or guaranteed to be secure.
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