Secure Authentication Scheme and Key Management for Wireless Sensor Networks
A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensor Networks".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: authentication; blockchain; Internet of Things; VANET; data sharing; information security
Interests: authentication; blockchain; AI security; information security; post-quantum cryptography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are emerging as a critical enabler of numerous applications, including environmental monitoring, industrial automation, smart agriculture, healthcare, and military surveillance. These networks consist of spatially distributed sensor nodes that cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions and transmit collected data to central locations through wireless communication. Despite their advantages in terms of flexibility and scalability, WSNs inherently face serious security and privacy challenges due to their open communication medium, resource constraints, and unattended deployment environments.
Among the most crucial aspects of securing WSNs are the design of robust authentication schemes and efficient key management mechanisms. Without proper authentication, sensor nodes and base stations are vulnerable to various attacks such as spoofing, replay attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks. Similarly, weak or inefficient key management can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the entire network, leaving it susceptible to eavesdropping and data tampering.
This Special issue aims to collate original research contributions, advanced developments, and comprehensive reviews in the area of secure authentication and key management for WSNs. We welcome submissions that propose novel schemes, analyze vulnerabilities, or provide lightweight cryptographic solutions suited for the energy and computational limitations of sensor networks. We are particularly interested in works that bridge theory and practice, offering solutions that are both secure and feasible for real-world deployment.
Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lightweight authentication protocols for WSNs;
- Key distribution and key management schemes for resource-constrained networks;
- End-to-end encryption and secure communication frameworks for WSNs;
- Security and privacy in wireless networks for WSNs;
- Intrusion detection systems and secure access control;
- Post-quantum cryptographic schemes for WSNs;
- Energy-efficient cryptographic mechanisms;
- Security in heterogeneous sensor networks and IoT-integrated WSNs;
- Formal verification and security analysis of authentication/key management schemes;
- Case studies and practical implementations in real WSN applications.
Dr. JoonYoung Lee
Dr. SungJin Yu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- secure authentication
- key management
- intrusion detection
- wireless sensor networks
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