A novel source location privacy preservation technique to achieve enhanced privacy and network lifetime in WSNs

Abstract In this paper, we propose a two-phase routing technique using multiple virtual sources to provide enhanced source location privacy in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). We use the concept of escape-angle and random walks that is based on potential energy. The proposed method routes packets to the base station via different virtual sources located at various positions in the network. The key idea of this work is to exploit the excess energy available in the non-hotspot areas of the network to generate dispersive routes between source node and the virtual sources. This approach maximizes safety-period without hampering the network lifetime. We present mathematical models to estimate the overall energy expenditure that incurs at each node during Min Hop Routing phase (phase two). We then determine the remaining amount of energy which could be used for Stochastic and Diffusive Routing phase (phase one). Simulation results show that the proposed technique achieves improved safety-period without hampering the network lifetime.