A secure authentication scheme for integration of cellular networks and MANETs

Cellular networks and ad hoc networks have been widely deployed to provide many different services for mobile users. Due to their complementary properties, integrating networks of cellular networks and ad hoc networks are about to employed in commercial applications. Hence, secure authentication systems are vital to support this architecture. In this study, we propose a secure authentication scheme for ad hoc-aided integrating networks based on hybrid encryption. Security analysis shows that impersonation attacks can be blocked due to symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. Meanwhile, with hash functions and digital signature, replay attacks, man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and non-reputation attacks can be circumvented. Performance results by simulation reveal that this scheme is practical according to provided magnitude.