Cognitive Networks: Towards Self-Aware Networks

11.8. Conclusions

The main motivation behind cognitive radios ^[] has been to increase spectrum utilization by allowing the unlicensed (secondary) users to opportunistically access the frequency band actually owned by the licensed (primary) user. In contrast to other network security architectures, in cognitive radios networks, the users are categorized into two distinct classes: primary users and secondary users. In this chapter, we showed that this categorization gives rise to several security issues that are unique to cognitive radio communications. We also discussed various security aspects such as authentication and authorization of users, confidentiality and integrity of communication as well as identification and non-repudiation of cognitive user devices. Some reliability issues that are inherent in cognitive networks were examined. We then proposed several novel security attacks on different layers of the protocol stack in cognitive networks that make use of one or more of the inherent vulnerabilities. Through these attacks we showed that the fundamental idea behind cognitive networks (to have self-aware networks that offer resilient services and keep the intruders out of it simply by cognition) is not yet fulfilled. We then briefly examined several existing cognitive radio network architectures such as OCRA, Nautilus, IEEE 802.22 and DIMSUMnet with comments on their security. Finally, we suggested some future directions that need to be taken to make the protocols that ...