1.1 Introduction
Data Security was found many years before the beginning of wireless communication. Both security and wireless communication will remain an interesting subject for years to come. Wireless networks fall into several categories, depending on the size of the physical area that they are capable of covering. The following types of wireless networks satisfy different user requirements: Wireless Personal-Area Network (PAN), Wireless Local-Area Network (LAN), Wireless Metropolitan-Area Network (MAN) and Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN). Many encryption algorithms are widely available and used in information security. They can be categorized into Symmetric (private) and Asymmetric (public) keys encryption. In Symmetric keys encryption or secret key encryption, only one key is used to encrypt and decrypt data.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Over the past few years, Internet-enabled business, or e-business, has drastically improved companies’ efficiency and revenue growth. E-business applications such as e-commerce, supply-chain management, and remote access allow companies to streamline processes, lower operating costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Such applications require mission-critical networks that accommodate voice, video, and data traffic, and these networks must be scalable to support increasing numbers of users and the need for greater capacity and performance. However, as networks enable more and more applications and are available to more and more users, they become ever more vulnerable to a wider range of security threats. To combat those threats and ensure that e-business transactions and vital information are not compromised, security technology must play a major role in today's networks (Cisco, 2021). Both wired and wireless networks can claim advantages over the other; both represent viable options for home and other local area networks (LANs). In theory, wireless LANs are less secure than wired LANs, because wireless communication signals travel through the air and can easily be intercepted. The increasing importance of wireless systems provides malicious persons greater incentives to step up their efforts to gain unauthorized access to the information being exchanged over the wireless link (WLANS, 2003). The security risks in the wireless environment are particularly important because the wireless devices in the recent past have not been developed with security of the systems in mind (Hirani, 2008). Cryptography is the conversion of data into a secret code for transmission over a public network. The data is protected (confidentiality) before transmission using an encryption algorithm to keep the data secure from an eavesdropper. Encryption is also essential for other security services such as authentication, data integrity and access control. Due to the intensive computation inherent in encryption algorithms, they tend to consume a substantial amount of energy or battery power (Ruangchaijatupon et al., 2001).
In wireless networks, a security protocol needs to also consider the limited battery power, small memory and limited processing capabilities of the devices and the available bandwidth. Investigation of the energy consumption of the encryption algorithms in wireless devices is therefore fundamental in the design of energy efficient security protocols customized to the wireless environment.
Therefore, in Atibex Technologies LTD, Ikeja Lagos where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Performance and Power Consumption Analysis of Symmetric Encryption Algorithms in Wireless Devices.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that stronger security is achieved by using longer key sizes and stronger encryption algorithms. The stronger algorithms come at the cost of increased computational time and energy consumption. Encryption algorithms are known to be computationally intensive. They consume a significant amount of computing resources such as CPU time, memory, and battery power.
A wireless device, usually with very limited resources, especially battery power, is subject to the problem of energy consumption due to encryption algorithms. Due to the intensive computation expected in encryption algorithms, they tend to consume a considerable amount of energy or battery power. The battery can be quickly exhausted due to encryption, especially for a small wireless device. Increasing the security level would reduce the operation time of the device.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Performance and Power Consumption Analysis of Symmetric Encryption Algorithms in Wireless Devices using Atibex Technologies LTD, Ikeja Lagos as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To protect networks and their applications against attacks, ensuring information availability, confidentiality and integrity.
- To understand and improve the file data security through symmetric encryption of data.
- To ensure the data confidentiality and integrity along with the safe transmission of file data over Wireless Devices.
- To evaluate the potential returns on investment for various network security technologies and components versus the opportunity costs of not implementing those items.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Performance and Power Consumption Analysis of Symmetric Encryption Algorithms in Wireless Devices using Atibex Technologies LTD, Ikeja Lagos as a case study.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
Based on this research work, the following terms are used, and briefly defined bellow;
Encryption: A process of converting data/information into another form.
Decryption: A process of converting data/information (multimedia) back to its Original form.
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