Preventing or utilising key escrow in identity-based schemes employed in mobile ad hoc networks Online publication date: Wed, 11-Apr-2007
by Katrin Hoeper, Guang Gong
International Journal of Security and Networks (IJSN), Vol. 2, No. 3/4, 2007
Abstract: Recently, Identity-Based Cryptography (IBC) schemes have been considered as a tool to secure Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) due to the efficient key management of the schemes. In this work, we focus on the role of the Key Generation Centre (KGC) as a key escrow, a property that is inherent to all IBC schemes. We explore the special role of key escrow in MANETs and show that this role significantly differs from key escrows in other networks. We introduce two adversary models for dishonest KGCs in MANETs, including a new spy model where a KGC uses so-called spy nodes that record communications in the network and report them to the KGC. We discuss the two faces of key escrow in MANETs, where our analytical results show that in many MANET applications the KGC can be prevented from being a key escrow. On the other hand, the results of this paper illustrate how a KGC can utilise spy nodes to monitor nodes in a MANET, as needed in some applications.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Security and Networks (IJSN):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook