KDFBA: key distribution through fingerprint based authentication using Mobile agent

As mobile networks and use of mobile devices are increasing at a rapid rate, need of securing both the device information and the network increasing evermore. Authentication of the user is another important challenge as this need to be done remotely. Bio-cryptography is one of the robust solution, which uses existing cryptography techniques with user biometric information for encryption and authentication. Encryption process also involves key generation and distribution. Key Distribution Center (KDC) is the most common mode of key generation and key distribution. KDC is always been the most profitable and worthy target for the adversaries. When KDC is compromised the strongest security protocols, encryption protocols, firewalls etc. will be of no use and will backfire. This paper explains some of the currently existing approaches of key exchange and problems in existing approaches are identified. A new biometric based key exchange protocol (KDFBA) is proposed which makes use of the mobile agent for key exchange and biometric information for authentication. Proposed protocol is simulated on NS2 platform and is also compared with the existing approaches. Protocol is tested against some parameters like traffic generated, timing analysis and prevention against attacks like black hole attack. The simulation results prove that the proposed key exchange protocol reduces the traffic on the network considerably and also prevents attacks like black hole.