Apparatus and method for data packet security in a wireless sensor network

An apparatus for providing data packet security in a wireless sensor network including a plurality of sensor nodes, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory unit for storing a security information table including a plurality of node characteristic information and at least one of settable security status information corresponding to the plurality of node characteristic information;
• and
• a control unit for examining the node characteristic information of the control unit, if a data packet generation request is made, detecting the security status information corresponding to the examined node characteristic information using the security information table stored in the memory unit, and generating data packets including the detected security status information,
• wherein the node characteristic information comprises at least one of
• network characteristic information;
• application characteristic information;
• and
• control characteristic information.