Using I2P Encrypted Virtual Tunnels for a Secure and Anonymous Communication in VANets: I2P Vehicular Protocol (IVP)

Abstract Providing security and anonymity within VANet requires application of robust and secure models that meet several characteristics of VANet. I2P as a secure protocol designed to anonymize the communication on the internet, can be used as a reference model to develop new mechanisms of security and anonymity in VANet. I2P uses robust mechanisms and strong algorithms to reinforce the security and the anonymity of the communication. However, the difference between internet and VANet in terms of mobility and connectivity of nodes presents a big issue that needs to be treated when using I2P mechanisms in VANet. In the previous work [1], we propose a protocol based on tunnels and encryption algorithms that use digital signatures and authentication mechanisms. Tunnels are created in static scenarios and without maintaining their existence. In this paper, we complete the last version of the proposed protocol (I2P Vehicular Protocol) by integrating a tunnel maintenance algorithm for maintaining the existence of the created tunnels during the communication. This algorithm allows the implementation of the protocol in mobile scenarios of VANet. The effectiveness and security of IVP protocol are proved by analyzing the added part related to the tunnel maintenance process and showing performance results (end-to-end delay, PDR and overhead). Simulation scenarios were executed using NS3 simulator.