Security of a Mesh Potato Network in Ad Hoc Mode

Abstract

Wireless Mesh Networks can provide low cost and reliable community-owned connectivity in developing rural areas. A rural community can use mesh networks to access a wide range of modern information and communication technologies, and as such, protection of these networks from malicious behavior is very important. While there has been work into securing mesh networks, almost none of it has been applied within the Village Telco, or mesh potato, arena. It is against this background that this paper advocates the investigation of security weaknesses of and solutions for mesh potato networks by intervening with a particular security set-up of the mesh potatoes used in the deployment of a rural community wireless mesh network in Mankosi Community located in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. These devices currently have no protection in ad hoc mode. This work in progress paper describes how we plan to provide and test security for this mesh.