Security Issues in Monitoring Medical Disease Through Vehicular Ad hoc Network

Abstract

Several diseases and medical conditions require constant monitoring of physiological signals and vital signs on daily bases, such as diabetics, hypertension, etc. In order to make these patients capable of living their daily life, it is necessary to provide a platform and infrastructure that allows the constant collection of physiological data even when the patient is not inside the coverage area. Ad hoc networks are a new wireless networking paradigm for mobile hosts. Unlike traditional mobile wireless networks, ad hoc networks do not rely on any fixed infrastructure. Instead, hosts rely on each other to keep the network connected. The medical, military, tactical, and other security-sensitive operations are still the main applications of ad hoc networks, although there is a trend to adopt ad hoc networks for commercial uses due to their unique properties. One main challenge in design of these networks is their vulnerability to security attacks. In this chapter, we study the threats an ad hoc network faces and the security goals to be achieved. We identify the new challenges and opportunities posed by this new networking environment and explore new approaches to secure its communication.