| Abstract: | Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are independent networks, where mobile nodes communicate with other nodes through wireless links by multihop transmission. Security is still an issue to be fixed in MANETs. Hence, a routing protocol named encrypted trust‐based dolphin glowworm optimization (DGO) (E‐TDGO) is designed using Advanced Encryption Standard‐128 (AES‐128) and trust‐based optimization model for secure routing in MANET. The proposed E‐TDGO protocol includes three phases, namely, k‐path discovery, optimal path selection, and communication. At first, k paths are discovered based on the distance and the trust level of the nodes. From the k paths discovered, the optimal path is selected using a novel algorithm, DGO, which is developed by combining glowworm swarm optimization (GSO) algorithm and dolphin echolocation algorithm (DEA). Once the optimal path is selected, communication begins in the network such that E‐TDGO protocol ensures security. The routing messages are encrypted using AES‐128 with shared code and key to offer security. The experimental results show that the proposed E‐TDGO could attain throughput of 0.11, delay of 0.01 second, packet drop of 0.44, and detection rate of 0.99, at the maximum number of rounds considered in the network of 75 nodes with attack consideration. |
