Security and Privacy in Vehicular Networks

Abstract

In this thesis, we achieved our underlined objectives highlighted in the introduction as being our research problematic. The aim of our research is to provide privacy and security solutions that ensure the safe usage of vehicular networks. In the thesis, we guided the reader to learn about the vehicular networks and their various types, technologies and challenges. These networks were initially developed to ensure the safety of their users and to extend the internet services to the road. However, the cyber-activity of these users on road may endanger their privacy. This causes their tracking, the exposure of their secrets and may even impact their safety. The privacy in vehicular network is at risk because of the requirements imposed by the system. The wireless exchange of heartbeat messages containing the vehicle’s identity and spatiotemporal data facilitates the tracking for the attackers. The tracking is passive which gives the attacker the chance to track his/her victims for long periods before being detected. The attacker may use the collected data to profile his/her victims, blackmail them, or trade their data for profit. The consequences may be more perilous such as causing road causalities