Evaluating the Effects of Primary User Emulation Attacks on Cognitive Radio Networks

A Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) is a solution to wireless technology which solves the spectrum scarcity challenge. CRN addresses the underutilization of the spectrum by enabling unlicensed users to coexist with the network’s licensed users (primary users). The secondary users are expected to utilize the spectrum only when the primary user is idle. Unfortunately, cognitive radio network is vulnerable to security threats. This study focuses on one of the threats known as the Primary User Emulation Attack (PUEA). A number of mitigation schemes have been designed to combat the PUEA. This study evaluates the Neyman-Pearson Hypothesis Test (NPCHT) and Wald’s Sequential Probability Ratio Test (WSPRT) through network simulations. The results show that the NPCHT only outperformed the WSPRT in the probability of false alarm results when the malicious nodes are high. However, the remaining scenarios also yield poor results.