Intrusion detection using mobile agents in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper we propose a distributed intrusion detection system for ad hoc wireless networks based on mobile agent technology. Wireless networks are particularly vulnerable to intrusion, as they operate in open medium, and use cooperative strategies for network communications. By efficiently merging audit data from multiple network sensors, we analyze the entire ad hoc wireless network for intrusions and try to inhibit intrusion attempts. In contrast to many intrusion detection systems designed for wired networks, we implement an efficient and bandwidth-conscious framework that targets intrusion at multiple levels and takes into account the distributed nature of ad hoc wireless network management and decision policies.