Pseudonym generation using genetic algorithm in vehicular ad hoc networks

Abstract

Crossover technique can help to minimize the overhead of pseudonym and reduce the chances of occurrence of hazards that can occur due to the leak of information in the network. To achieve anonymity and preserving information of a vehicle in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), a novel pseudonym assignment approach is being proposed. However, a VANET is a dynamic and complex network and its important characteristic is the demand for accurate information exchange in-between communicating nodes (vehicles) moving in the network. Therefore in a VANET, an effective pseudonym generation algorithm should efficiently adapt to the dynamic changes and able to contribute to preserving privacy. In this paper, we formulate pseudonym assignment (PAP) problem in vehicular ad hoc networks and propose an algorithm that generates pseudonyms using the crossover technique of Genetic Algorithm (GA) by crossing an initial pair of pseudonyms and generating a new set of pseudonyms which are assigned to vehicles at different time difference. The experimental analysis by computing the variation between the pseudonyms shows that the proposed solution can work well for the PAP and evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm through showing relatively changing values of the anonymous pseudonym set.

Subject Classification:

• 97R40

Keywords:

• Vehicular ad-hoc networks
• Pseudonym
• Unlinkability
• Crossover
• Genetic Algorithm