Secure message formats and processing for use by Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) devices are defined in this standard, including methods to secure WAVE management messages and methods to secure application messages. Administrative functions necessary to support the core security functions are also described.

This standard defines secure message formats and processing for use by Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) devices, including methods to secure WAVE management messages and methods to secure application messages. It also describes administrative functions necessary to support the core security functions

The safety-critical nature of many WAVE applications makes it vital that services be specified that can be used to protect messages from attacks such as eavesdropping, spoofing, alteration, and replay. Additionally, the fact that the wireless technology will be deployed in communication devices in personal vehicles as well as other portable devices, whose owners have an expectation of privacy, means that in as much as possible the security services need to be designed to respect privacy and not leak personal, identifying, or linkable information to unauthorized parties. This standard describes security services for WAVE management messages and application messages designed to meet these goals.