Towards an Aggregate Signature-based Authentication for Opportunistic Networks

Opportunistic Networks are particular networks where independent nodes come together under the supervision of a Seed OppNet to achieve a precise goal. For only certified nodes are allowed to help an extended or expanded Seed OppNet achieve its goal; making sure that unauthorized users do not disrupt the smooth completion of the Seed OppNet's mission, Helpers' authentication is critical. However, despite the significant contributions tackling the issue of authentication within an OppNet's environment, so far, in literature, most OppNets authentication proposed schemes just focused on (Helper-Helper) authentication; there is no scheme intended to (Helpers-Seed OppNet) authentication in an extended OppNet's environment. Resorting to the properties of Digital Signature, BLS Signature and aggregate BLS signatures, this paper proposes an authentication mechanism that allows a Seed OppNet to process pieces of information effectively and efficiently. The proposed scheme is secure against the rogue pubic key, tapping, forgery, replay, and man-in-the-middle attacks.