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Cognitive radio (CR) has emerged as one of the most investigated techniques in wireless networks. Research is ongoing in terms of this technology and its potential use. This technology relies on making full use of the unused spectrum to solve the problem of the spectrum shortage in wireless networks based on the excessive demand for spectrum use. While the wireless network technology node's range of applications in various sectors may have security drawbacks and issues leading to deteriorating the network, combining it with CR technology might enhance the network performance and improve its security. In order to enhance the performance of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs), a lightweight authentication medium access control (MAC) protocol for CR-WSNs that is highly compatible with current WSNs is proposed. Burrows–Abadi–Needham (BAN) logic is used to prove that the proposed protocol achieves secure and mutual authentication. The automated verification of internet security protocols and applications (AVISPA) simulation is used to simulate the system security of the proposed protocol and to provide formal verification. The result clearly shows that the proposed protocol is SAFE under the on-the-fly model-checker (OFMC) backend, which means the proposed protocol is immune to passive and active attacks such as man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and replay attacks. The performance of the proposed protocol is evaluated and compared with related protocols in terms of the computational cost, which is 0.01184 s. The proposed protocol provides higher security, which makes it more suitable for the CR-WSN environment and ensures its resistance against different types of attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are becoming more popular for many applications due to their convenient services. However, sensor nodes may suffer from significant security flaws, leading researchers to propose authentication schemes to protect WSNs. Although these authentication protocols significantly fulfill the required protection, security enhancement with less energy consumption is essential to preserve the availability of resources and secure better performance. In 2020, Youssef et al. suggested a scheme called Enhanced Probabilistic Cluster Head Selection (LEACH-PRO) to extend the sensors' lifetime in WSNs. This paper introduces a new variant of the LEACH-PRO protocol by adopting the blockchain security technique to protect WSNs. The proposed protocol (SLEACH-PRO) performs a decentralized authentication mechanism by applying a blockchain to multiple base stations to avoid system and performance degradation in the event of a station failure. The security analysis of the SLEACH-PRO is performed using Burrows–Abadi–Needham (BAN) logic and Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA) tool. Moreover, the SLEACH-PRO is evaluated and compared to related protocols in terms of computational cost and security level based on its resistance against several attacks. The comparison results showed that the SLEACH-PRO protocol is more secure and requires less computational cost compared to other related protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concern about healthcare information security in the wake of alarmingly rising cyber-attacks is being given symmetrical priority by current researchers and cyber security experts. Intruders are penetrating symmetrical mechanisms of healthcare information security continuously. In the same league, the paper presents an overview on the current situation of healthcare information and presents a layered model of healthcare information management in organizations. The paper also evaluates the various factors that have a key contribution in healthcare information security breaches through a hybrid fuzzy-based symmetrical methodology of AHP-TOPSIS. Furthermore, for assessing the effect of the calculated results, the authors have tested the results on local hospital software of Varanasi. Tested results of the factors are validated through the comparison and sensitivity analysis in this study. Tabulated results of the proposed study propose a symmetrical mechanism as the most conversant technique which can be employed by the experts and researchers for preparing security guidelines and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]