A Novel Approach for Efficient Usage of Intrusion Detection System in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) are self-configuring, infra-structure less, dynamic wireless
networks in which the nodes are resource constrained. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are used in MANETs
to monitor activities so as to detect any intrusion in the otherwise vulnerable network. In this paper, we present
efficient schemes for analysing and optimizing the time duration for which the intrusion detection systems
need to remain active in a mobile ad hoc network. A probabilistic model is proposed that makes use of
cooperation between IDSs among neighbourhood nodes to reduce their individual active time. Usually, an IDS
has to run all the time on every node to oversee the network behaviour. This can turn out to be a costly
overhead for a battery-powered mobile device in terms of power and computational resources. Hence, in this
work our aim is to reduce the duration of active time of the IDSs without compromising on their effectiveness.
To validate our proposed approach, we model the interactions between IDSs as a multi-player cooperative
game in which the players have partially cooperative and partially conflicting goals. We theoretically analysis
this game and support it with simulation results.