Secured and flexible user authentication protocol for wireless sensor network

Purpose In wireless sensor network (WSN), user authentication plays as a vital role in which data sensing, as well as sharing, will be spoiled by hackers. To enhance user security, user authentication must be focused. Design/methodology/approach In previous works, for secured authentication, Enhanced User Authentication Protocol (EUAP) is presented. On the other hand, the user free password generation is permitted in the previous technique. Findings Here, password leakage may cause a malevolent user's contribution to the WSN environment. By presenting the Flexible and Secured User Authentication Protocol (FSUAP), this is solved in the presented technique in which secured as well as reliable sharing of data contents via unsecured wireless sensor devices was accomplished. Originality/value The foremost objective of the present technique is to device the protocol that would verify the users beforehand letting them access the sensor devices situated in various sites. The use of a sensor device could be reduced in a significant way. Three-factor authentication protocols are presented in place of two-factor authentication protocol in the presented technique that could deal with and safeguard the environment from a brute force attack in an effective manner.