A novel sender authentication scheme based on hash chain for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are receiving enormous research attention in the wake of rising challenges of safe driving, and demand for infotainment services on the move. Information security in VANETs is a critical design issue, since public lives could be at stake. This paper presents a novel sender authentication scheme for enhancing VANET security. The scheme makes use of hash chaining, a well-known concept in cryptography, to authenticate vehicles. The authentication process takes place at a trusted third party site, called the Authentication Centre, and the RSUs (Road Side Units) help relay information exchanged between a vehicle and the Authentication Centre. A detailed discussion of the scheme is provided in the paper, and a security analysis is presented.