Enhancing the LEACH protocol and lightweight chaotic cryptography for secure data transmission in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks face significant challenges in achieving energy efficiency, prolonged network lifespan, and secure data transmission due to resource-constrained nodes and vulnerable wireless channels. This study introduces new work in WSN, an innovative hybrid framework that integrates Wild Horse Optimization and Giza Pyramids Construction meta-heuristic algorithms with fuzzy logic for optimal cluster head selection and chaos-based lightweight cryptography for secure communication. The approach employs WHO and GPC to dynamically optimize clustering by balancing node dispersion and energy distribution, while fuzzy logic selects CHs based on residual energy, node neighborhood, and distance to the base station using Mamdani inference. A novel chaos-based encryption scheme, leveraging XOR iteration loops and chaotic shifts, ensures robust security with minimal computational overhead. Simulation results demonstrate that proposed method extends network lifespan by 53.75-14.73% compared to LEACH and GPC, respectively, increases throughput by approximately 2380 packets (18% higher than Firefly Algorithm-based methods), and achieves high security (NPCR > 99.5%, entropy near 8 bits) with 15% lower energy overhead than AES-based methods. This framework offers a scalable, energy-efficient, and secure solution, significantly outperforming traditional WSN protocols.