Eavesdropping activities in wireless networks: impact of channel randomness

Abstract

This paper presents a novel analytical model to investigate the eavesdropping attacks in wireless networks in the presence of channel randomness with emphasis on the shadow fading effect and Rayleigh fading effect. Our numerical results show that the probability of eavesdropping attacks heavily depends on the shadow fading effect, the path loss effect, Rayleigh fading effect and the antenna models. In particular, we find that the shadow fading effect is beneficial to the eavesdropping probability while both the path loss effect and Rayleigh fading effect are detrimental. Besides, using directional antennas at eavesdroppers can also increase the eavesdropping probability. This study provides us with some useful insights that may help us to better protect the confidential communications.