Enhancing security in wireless sensor networks: A fusion of deep learning and energy-efficient routing

The development of tiny sensing nodes efficient for wireless communication in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be attributed to the rapid advancements in processors and radio technology. Data transmission occurs through multi-hop routing in WSN, which relies on nodes’ cooperation. The collaboration between nodes has rendered these networks susceptible to various attacks. It is imperative to employ a security scheme to evaluate the dependability of nodes in distinctive malicious nodes from non-malicious nodes. In recent years, there has been a growing significance placed on security-based routing protocols with energy constraints as valuable mechanisms for enhancing the security and performance of WSNs. A novel solution called the Deep Learning-based Hybrid Energy Efficient and Security System (DL-HE2S2) is introduced to address these challenges. The research workflow encompasses various essential stages, namely the deployment of nodes, the creation of clusters, the selection of cluster heads, the detection of malevolent nodes within each group, and the determination of optimal paths intra- and inter-clusters employing the routing algorithm for efficient packet transmission. The design of the algorithm is focused on achieving energy efficiency and enhancing network security while also taking into account various performance metrics, including a mean network lifetime of 187.244 hours, a throughput of 59.88 kilobits per second, an end-to-end latency of 11.939 milliseconds, a packet loss of 14.9%, a packet delivery ratio of 99.194%, network security at 92.026%, and energy usage of 19.424 J. This research examines the algorithm’s scalability and efficiency across various network sizes using a Network Simulator (NS-2). DL-HE2S2 offers valuable insights that can be applied to practical implementations in multiple applications.