Modeling the effect of Network Access Control and Sensor Random Distribution on Worm Propagation

Sensor networks are appealing targets for malicious attacks that invade the network with the aim of depleting the confidentiality, availability and integrity (CIA) features/parameters of neighboring sensor nodes. This is due to its open communication, minimal resources and its deployment in un-trusted, unguarded and unfriendly terrains. To restrict illegitimate users or malicious attackers (such as worms) network analysts have suggested network access control (NAC). Specifically, we apply NAC to wireless sensor network epidemic models in order to investigate distribution density, transmission range and sensor area/field. Our analyses involved analytical expressions of two sensor fields gleaned from literature. Additionally, we explored the possibilities of infectivity of sensor nodes at the exposed class using the two expressions for sensor field topologies. We also derived the reproduction ratios and solutions at several equilibrium points for the models. It is our hope that that our work herein would impact sensor deployment decisions for organizations that utilize wireless sensor networks for meaningful daily activities.