An algorithm to detect malicious nodes in wireless sensor network using enhanced LEACH protocol

Wireless sensor network comprises of small sensor nodes with limited resources. Typical applications of sensor network are Weather monitoring, Civil Applications, Battle field monitoring, Intrusion Detection etc. These sensor networks have limitations of system resources like battery power, communication range and processing capability. Low processing power and wireless connectivity make such networks vulnerable to various types of network attacks. Sensor network uses Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), which is a TDMA based MAC protocol that balances the clustering energy, hence the network lifetime is prolonged. As the Cluster-heads are selected randomly so there are some disadvantages regarding LEACH protocol such as if once the CH dies the whole network fails. Hence we propose a new approach in cluster-head selection. In our approach, a modified cluster-head selection algorithm has been proposed based on remaining battery life and distance and detection of malicious nodes in an effective way so that no attack can ruin the normal network operation.