Fuzzy Based Dynamic Encryption Algorithm for WLAN Security Enhancement

Abstract

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was created to explain the fundamentals of cryptography. When it comes to data security, WEP relies on the symmetric secret key stream cypher RC4. The conventional WEP provides a shared secret key of only 40 bits in length, which is insufficient for protecting highly confidential information. A 128-bit key is required at a minimum for protecting sensitive information. When it comes to WLAN security, WEP is ground zero. WPA1 was designed to address the security concerns raised by WEP. Even though it relies on a stream cypher and cryptographically weak integrity and generates a new 128-bit key for each packet, it still has some security weaknesses, similar to those of WEP. Stations (STAs), access points (APs), and distribution systems (DSs) constitute the backbone of every wireless network. The AP logically links the STAs, which are wireless endpoint devices, to the DS, which is often the wired infrastructure of an organisation. Without using a DS, APs can also logically link wireless STAs together. Within AP, the proposed enhancement in WLAN security is achieved by hardware implementation of dynamic allocation of any one of encryption algorithm from AES, RC4 and Twofish using fuzzy logic. This is performed using a specialized processor in order to achieve security system improvement, with maximum speed, which implements the system in the FPGA technology and it is placed in the access point. The end user using high end CPUs in order to compensate the speed of operation is to access high end point FPGA processor.