A cluster-based countermeasure against MAC layer attacks in IEEE 802.11 MANETs

MANETs become a considerable interest nowadays. However, these types of networks are vulnerable to a large group of attacks, e.g., MAC layer attacks. Most of the previous researches related to security issues focus on detection of misbehaviors after it occurred. We propose a new way of thinking to evade occurrence of misbehaviors. A novel clustering algorithm is presented using analytic hierarchy process to elect clusterhead. Afterwards, the clusterhead is required to assign backoff values to originators in its transmission range, which are also the members in the corresponding cluster, rather than permitting the originators to choose backoff values. Meanwhile, the elected clusterhead also monitors whether originators obey the backoff values. With the proposed scheme, the misuse of the backoff in MAC layer in 802.11 DCF can be prevented.