Computers, Materials & Continua DOI:10.32604/cmc.2023.032972 | [picture]
Article |

IoT-Cloud Assisted Botnet Detection Using Rat Swarm Optimizer with Deep Learning

Saeed Masoud Alshahrani¹, Fatma S. Alrayes², Hamed Alqahtani³, Jaber S. Alzahrani⁴, Mohammed Maray⁵, Sana Alazwari⁶, Mohamed A. Shamseldin⁷ and Mesfer Al Duhayyim⁸,*

1 Department of Computer Science, College of Computing and Information Technology, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Information Systems, College of Computer Science, Center of Artificial Intelligence, Unit of Cybersecurity, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
4 Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering at Alqunfudah, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Information Systems, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
6 Department of Information Technology, College of Computers and Information Technology, Taif University, Taif P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
7 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
8 Department of Computer Science, College of Sciences and Humanities-Aflaj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author: Mesfer Al Duhayyim. Email: m.alduhayyim@psau.edu.sa
Received: 03 June 2022; Accepted: 05 July 2022

Abstract: Nowadays, Internet of Things (IoT) has penetrated all facets of human life while on the other hand, IoT devices are heavily prone to cyberattacks. It has become important to develop an accurate system that can detect malicious attacks on IoT environments in order to mitigate security risks. Botnet is one of the dreadful malicious entities that has affected many users for the past few decades. It is challenging to recognize Botnet since it has excellent carrying and hidden capacities. Various approaches have been employed to identify the source of Botnet at earlier stages. Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques are developed based on heavy influence from Botnet detection methodology. In spite of this, it is still a challenging task to detect Botnet at early stages due to low number of features accessible from Botnet dataset. The current study devises IoT with Cloud Assisted Botnet Detection and Classification utilizing Rat Swarm Optimizer with Deep Learning (BDC-RSODL) model. The presented BDC-RSODL model includes a series of processes like pre-processing, feature subset selection, classification, and parameter tuning. Initially, the network data is pre-processed to make it compatible for further processing. Besides, RSO algorithm is exploited for effective selection of subset of features. Additionally, Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm is utilized for both identification and classification of botnets. Finally, Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) is executed for fine-tuning the hyperparameters related to LSTM model. In order to validate the promising performance of BDC-RSODL system, a comprehensive comparison analysis was conducted. The obtained results confirmed the supremacy of BDC-RSODL model over recent approaches.

Keywords: Internet of things; cloud computing; long short term memory; deep learning; sine cosine algorithm; feature selection

1  Introduction

Internet of Things (IoT) is a paradigm in which billions of intelligent devices are interconnected with each other and are capable of communicating through internet [1]. In recent years, several machines are embedded every day with sensors and there is a tremendous increase can be observed upon communication through internet. As per the paper published in IoT Business News, there is a drastic growth experienced in the number of devices getting interconnected with IoT world. The number is expected to grow up to 24.1 billion by 2030 [2]. ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITUT) described IoT as a worldwide system that comprises of connected device in accordance to information and communication technology [3]. There is a bigger stream of information exists amidst the connected devices and security is one of the key challenges in IoT [4]. To guarantee the security of IoT network and devices associated with it, appropriate privacy requirements should be met at early stages of design, development and deployment of IoT devices [5,6]. Since IoT model is an emerging phenomenon, it still lacks a strong security mechanism or infrastructure which remains a threat to beneficial data. Current security strategies should be approved for IoT systems to retain the safety of individuals, IoT entities, and organizations [7]. The main security problem in IoT is botnet-based distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in which the hacker infects the device with script [8].

At present, Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm is utilized for the detection of IoT attacks with high accuracy [9,10]. AI technology has the capability of detecting the variance in methods and channels of attack. This is the major problem confronted by security solutions when it comes to dealing with IoT attacks: attackers introduce slight modifications from the preceding attack which makes the security solution incapable of identifying the threat [11,12]. Researchers and developers utilize AI technology to prevent other risks to the IoT environment by examining system traffic [13,14]. Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques have been converted into security systems to detect the attacks efficiently. DL is an evolution of AI that is contemporary to different real-time applications in order to handle complicated non-linear information.

Waqas et al. [15] inspected cyber security issues from the arrival of distributed denial of service (DDOS), and malware attacks. In this case, various ML techniques such as fuzzy classifier, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), linear regression, Naïve Bayes (NB), decision tree (DT), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), adaptive boosting, tree ensemble, artificial neural network (ANN), and gradient boosting were applied for the recognition of botnet attack. In literature [16], an ensemble learning based approach in IoT (ELBA-IoT) was suggested for botnet attack recognition in IoT networks. This method categorizes the behavioral features of IoT and utilizes ensemble learning for the identification anomalous network traffic in compromised IoT gadgets. Moreover, IoT-related botnet detection technique evaluates three distinct ML methods that belong to DT approaches (RUSBoosted, bagged, and AdaBoosted).

In the study conducted earlier [17], a feature extraction technique was first devised with the help of effective payload from every network packet. Then, a feature selection (FS) technique was projected on the basis of trade-off and by comparing the length of the packets extracted and the trained performance of models. By selecting a rational sum of packets and a suitable length of bytes as feature vectors, a DL method was projected and assessed for botnet detection. In literature [18], a novel method was introduced to be used in the creation of novel Botnet dataset. This dataset creation is to recognize the anomalous activities in IoT systems. A flow-related Intrusion Detection System (IDS) was tested and examined with the help of flow-related features. Alzahrani et al. [19] suggested a powerful system that is helpful in the detection of botnet attacks on IoT gadgets. This system creatively compiled the convolutional neural network (CNN) with long short term memory (CNN-LSTM) method so as to detect two serious and common IoT assaults (Mirai and BASHLITE) on four different kinds of security cameras.

The current research study devises a model for IoT named Cloud Assisted Botnet Detection and Classification using Rat Swarm Optimizer with Deep Learning (BDC-RSODL) model. The presented BDC-RSODL model involves a series of processes like pre-processing, feature subset selection, classification, and parameter tuning. Primarily, the network data is pre-processed to make it compatible for further processing. Besides, RSO algorithm is exploited to effectively elect a subset of features. Furthermore, LSTM approach is utilized for identification and classification of botnets. Finally, Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) is applied to fine tune the hyperparameters related to LSTM model. In order to validate the promising performance of the proposed BDC-RSODL technique, a comprehensive comparison analysis was conducted and the results were discussed under different measures.

2  The Proposed Botnet Detection Model

In this study, an effective BDC-RSODL model has been devised for detection and classification of botnet from IoT cloud environment. The presented BDC-RSODL model includes a series of processes like pre-processing, feature subset selection, classification, and parameter tuning. Initially, the network data is pre-processed to make it compatible for further processing. Besides, RSO algorithm is exploited to effectively elect a subset of features. Moreover, SCA with LSTM model is utilized for identification and classification of botnets. Fig. 1 depicts the overall processes involved in BDC-RSODL algorithm.

Figure 1: Overall process of BDC-RSODL approach

2.1 Feature Selection Using RSO Algorithm

In this stage, RSO technique is exploited to effectively elect a subset of features. Both chasing and fighting nature of the rats has been arithmetically formulated to develop RSO technique. This technique is used in current study to carry out optimization [20]. Usually, rats are social animals that chase the prey from groups using agonistic nature. In order to describe such behaviours, given that an optimum searching agent is acquaintance of the prey’s place.

Furthermore, the searching agents update their position with respect to optimum searching agents obtained until then. The subsequent formulation is used for the above mentioned scenario.

P→=A⋅P→i(x)+C⋅(P→r(x)−P→i(x))(1)

In Eq. (1), P→i(x) describes the location of the rat and P→r(x) indicates the optimal solution. Hence, A & C parameters are assessed using the formula given below.

A=R−x×(RMaxIteration)(2)

If, x=0,1,2,⋯,MaxIteration

C=2⋅rand()(3)

Thus, R & C denote arbitrary numbers between [1, 5] and [0, 2]. The parameters A & C are accountable for optimum exploitation and exploration at the time of iteration. To arithmetically define the fighting process of rats with prey, Eq. (4) is used.

P→i(x+1)=|P→r(x)−P→|(4)

Consider P→i(x+1) denotes the upgraded position of a rat. It retains the optimum solution and upgrades the location of other searching agents based on the location of the optimum searching agent. The impact of Eqs. (1) and (4) occur in three dimensional environments. Here, the rat’s (A, B) position gets upgraded toward the position of prey (A∗,B∗). By adjusting the parameters as presented in Eqs. (2) and (3), numerous quantity of positions are accomplished with respect to existing place. On the other hand, this mechanism is expanded under n-dimensional environments. Then, both exploitation and exploration are ensured by transformed A and C parameter values. The suggested RSO methodology stores the finest solution with the smallest operator. The process followed for existing RSO technique is shown below. The steps and the flowchart of RSO are given herewith.

1.    Start the rat population Pi whereas i=1,2,…,n.

2.    Choose the initial variable of RSO, A, C, & R.

3.    Now, assess the fitness value of each searching agent.

4.    The finest searching agent explores the searching region.

5.    Upgrade the location of searching agent using Eq. (4).

6.    Check whether the searching agent exceeds the boundary limits of searching region and then regulate it.

7.    Also, assess the fitness value of the upgraded searching agent and upgrade the vector Pr later so that there is an optimum solution present compared to early optimal solution.

8.    End the procedure when end criteria are satisfied. Otherwise, return to Step 5.

9.    Return the obtained optimum solution.

The fitness function of the RSO algorithm assumes classifier accuracy and the amount of chosen features. So, the subsequent FF is utilized in the evaluation of individual solutions as illustrated in Eq. (5).

Fitness=α∗ErrorRate+(1−α)∗#SF#All_F(5)

Here, ErrorRate represents the classifier error rate that employs the chosen features. ErrorRate is computed as a percentage of incorrect classification to the amount of classifiers made and is formulated as a value between 0 and 1. (ErrorRate refers to the complement of classifier accuracy), #SF denotes the number of chosen features and #All_F signifies the entire amount of attributes from original dataset. α is utilized for controlling the significance of classifier quality and subset length. In this case, α is set to be 0.9.

2.2 Botnet Detection Using LSTM Model

Next, LSTM model is utilized for identification and classification of botnet. Recurrent neural network (RNN) model consists of hidden, output, and input layers. Assume a sequence of length, x=[x1,x2,x3,…,xT−1,xT], the RNN reads x from x1 to xT, and computes the ht hidden layer and 0t output by iterating the subsequent equation from t=1 to T

ht=f(Wxh⋅xt+Whh⋅ht−1),t=1…T(6)

0t=f(Whx⋅ht),t=1…T(7)

Let Wxh∈Rm×d,Whh∈Rm×m and Whx∈Rm×n be the weights of input-hidden, hidden-hidden, and hidden-output whereas the sizes of input, hidden and output are represented by d,m and n respectively. f(⋅) denotes the activation function that operates on every element. In general, the final output 0T is applied as a softmax classification feature to predict the labels, since it comprises of data for the entire data sequence, x. Owing to the outstanding modelling of data sequence, RNN accomplishes innovative performance on different tasks. LSTM network has three gates such as forget, input, and output gates, besides the cell states [21]. Fig. 2 illustrates the infrastructure of LSTM. An input at present time step is integrated with data on Hidden Layer (HL) from the preceding time step, and is passed onto next step with activation function for input gate as follows.

ft=o(XtWf+St−1Uf+bf)(8)

whereas ft represents the forget gate. Xt signifies the input at time step t and St−1 implies the HL at preceding time step, t−1. Wf denotes the weight of input layers and Uf represents the recurrent weight of HLs. Here, bf stands for bias of the input layer. An input gate resolves that data is saved from cell state. Input gate performs two tasks i.e., during the primary task, the input gate layer resolves the upgraded value. But, during the secondary task, tanh layer adjusts the network by generating the vector of every novel candidate value. The formulas for the two tasks are as follows.

it=o(XtWi+St−1Ui+bj)(9)

C~t=tanh⁡(XtWc+St−1Uc+bc)(10)

Ct=Ct−1∗ft+it∗C~t(11)

Figure 2: Framework of LSTM

The resultant gate selects the HLs that are utilized to predict, using a sigmoid activation function. A novel altered cell state is distributed to tanh function and is multiplied to attain the outcome, as follows:

Ot=o(XtWo+St−1Uo+bo)(12)

St=Ot∗tanh(Ct)(13)

The weights are demonstrated by two matrixes, {W,U}. The matrix W={Wi,Wc,Wo} denotes the input weights connected to input, HL, and output layers correspondingly, but U={Ui,Uc,Uo} represents the weight of preceding HL i.e., recurrent weight from input layer, HL, and output layer. The bias vectors are gathered and forms as a matrix B={bj,bc,bo}, with the indices equivalent to similar layers.

2.3 Hyperparameter Tuning Using SCA

Finally, SCA is applied to fine tune the hyperparameters [22–24] related to LSTM model. The advantage of the proposed SCA algorithm is that one can achieve clear results and use simple parameters [25]. The location update is defined by cosine or sine function as given below.

Xt+1(i,j)={Xt(i,j)+r1(t)sinr2|r3Xtbest(i,j)−Xt(i,j)|,r4<0.5Xt(i,j)+r1(t)cosr2|r3Xtbest(i,j)−Xt(i,j)|,r4≥0.5(14)

where

Xt+1(i,j)–refers to ith individual position in t+1 round of dimension;

j,Xt(i,j)-signifies the ith individual position in t round of j dimension,

Xtbesi(i,j)—embodies the location of global optimum solution in the preceding t round;

r1(t)-signifies the amplitude factor;

r1(t)=α(1−tT),α=2,r2∈[0,2π],r3∈[−2,2],r4∈[0,1] and r2,r3,r4 variables are uniform distribution arbitrary integers. The variable r1 defines the moving direction of Xt+1(i,j). This direction is either between the space of Xt(i,j) and Xtbesi(i,j) or outside it. Furthermore, r1 determines the exploration and exploitation of the updating method. Here, r2 determines how much Xt(i,j) move towards or away from Xtbest(i,j) . The r3 variable describes the degree of influence of optimum solution Xtbesi(i,j) on the existing solution Xt(i,j). Here, r3>1 stochastically denotes that the degree influence of X and Y must be weakened, or else it must be strengthened. The r4 variable controls the switch between sine and cosine transforms.

3  Results and Discussion

The current section assesses the botnet classification outcomes of the proposed BDC-RSODL model using a dataset that is composed of 20,689 samples under two classes as depicted in Tab. 1.

Fig. 3 reports the set of confusion matrices generated by BDC-RSODL model on distinct test runs. On run-1, the proposed BDC-RSODL model categorized 2,530 samples under class 0 and 17,959 samples under class 1. Simultaneously, on run-3, BDC-RSODL approach recognized 2,533 samples as class 0 and 17,958 samples as class 1. Concurrently, on run-5, the proposed BDC-RSODL system classified 2,535 samples under class 0 and 17,961 samples under class 1.

Figure 3: Confusion matrices of BDC-RSODL approach (a) Run-1, (b) Run-2, (c) Run-3, (d) Run-4, and (d) Run-5

Tab. 2 provides an overview of botnet classification performance achieved by BDC-RSODL model under distinct runs of execution.

Fig. 4 shows a brief results of the analysis attained by BDC-RSODL model in terms of precn and recal. On run-1, the proposed BDC-RSODL model achieved average precn and recal values such as 96.68% and 99.04% respectively. In line with this, on run-3, BDC-RSODL system obtained average precn and recal values such as 96.68% and 99.10% correspondingly. Moreover, on run-5, the proposed BDC-RSODL technique offered average precn and recal values such as 96.74% and 99.15% correspondingly.

Figure 4: Precn and recal analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach under distinct runs

Fig. 5 details about the analysis results accomplished by BDC-RSODL approach with respect to Fscore and AUCscore. On run-1, the proposed BDC-RSODL methodology offered average Fscore and AUCscore values such as 97.82% and 99.04% correspondingly. Likewise, on run-3, the proposed BDC-RSODL approach achieved average Fscore and AUCscore values such as 97.85% and 99.10% correspondingly. Eventually, on run-5, BDC-RSODL system obtained average Fscore and AUCscore values such as 97.90% and 99.15% correspondingly.

Figure 5: Fscore and AUCscore analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach under distinct number of runs

Training Accuracy (TA) and Validation Accuracy (VA) values, achieved by the proposed BDC-RSODL system on test dataset, are demonstrated in Fig. 6. The experimental outcomes expose that the proposed BDC-RSODL technique gained maximal TA and VA values. To be specific, VA performed higher than TA.

Figure 6: TA and VA analysis results of BDC-RSODL methodology

Training Loss (TL) and Validation Loss (VL) values, attained by BDC-RSODL approach on test dataset, are portrayed in Fig. 7. The experimental outcomes reveal that the proposed BDC-RSODL algorithm achieved minimal TL and VL values. To be specific, VL is lesser than TL.

Figure 7: TL and VL analysis results of BDC-RSODL methodology

A clear precision-recall examination was conducted upon BDC-RSODL approach using test dataset and the results are shown in Fig. 8. The figure reveals that the proposed BDC-RSODL algorithm achieved improved precision-recall values under all classes.

Figure 8: Precision-recall curve analysis results of BDC-RSODL methodology

Tab. 3 shows the comparative analysis results achieved by BDC-RSODL model in terms of botnet classification performance [26]. Fig. 9 shows the detailed accuy inspection results attained by BDC-RSODL system and other existing models. The figure signifies that the host-based system achieved the least accuy of 92.90%. Also, peer to peer botnet detection system (P2P-BDS) and MTC-CNN algorithms demonstrated somewhat increased accuy values such as 94.50% and 95% respectively. Moreover, DT and fuzzy logic based artificial neural network (FL-ANN) models showcased reasonable accuy values such as 97.90% and 98.94% respectively. But the proposed BDC-RSODL model accomplished the highest accuy of 99.12%.

Figure 9: Accuy analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach and other existing methodologies

Fig. 10 is a brief portrayal of precn analysis results achieved by BDC-RSODL approach and other existing models. The figure represents that DT methodology achieved minimal precn of 94.94%. Simultaneously, P2P-BDS and host-based systems demonstrated somewhat superior precn values such as 95.61% and 95.34% correspondingly. Followed by, MTC-CNN and FL-ANN models showcased reasonable precn values such as 95.87% and 96.29% correspondingly. However, the proposed BDC-RSODL model accomplished a reasonable precn of 96.91%.

Figure 10: Precn analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach and other recent methodologies

Fig. 11 depicts the detailed recal investigation outcomes of BDC-RSODL system and other existing approaches. The figure implies that DT system exhibited the least recal of 95.95%. Along with that, P2P-BDS and host-based models demonstrated somewhat maximal recal values such as 96.67% and 96.84% correspondingly. Furthermore, MTC-CNN and FL-ANN models showcased reasonable recal values such as 97.77% and 97.87% correspondingly. Eventually, the proposed BDC-RSODL method accomplished the highest recal value of 99.18%.

Figure 11: Recal analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach and other existing methodologies

Fig. 12 is a brief portrays of Fscore analysis results achieved by the proposed BDC-RSODL system and other existing methodologies. The figure expose that P2P-BDS approach achieved a minimal Fscore of 94.66%. Similarly, DT and MTC-CNN methods demonstrated somewhat superior Fscore values such as 95.65% and 96.16% respectively. Besides, the host-based and FL-ANN models depicted reasonable Fscore values such as 96.59% and 97.08% correspondingly. At last, the proposed BDC-RSODL algorithm accomplished the maximum Fscore of 98%. Therefore, it is confirmed that the proposed BDC-RSODL approach is effective in botnet classification compared to other existing models.

Figure 12: Fscore analysis results of BDC-RSODL approach and other existing methodologies

4  Conclusion

In this study, an effective BDC-RSODL model has been devised for detection and classification of botnet from IoT cloud environment. The presented BDC-RSODL model includes a series of processes like pre-processing, feature subset selection, classification, and parameter tuning. Initially, the network data is pre-processed to make it compatible for further processing. Besides, RSO algorithm is exploited to effectively elect a subset of features. Moreover, LSTM model is utilized for identification and classification of botnets. Finally, SCA is applied to fine tune the hyperparameters related to LSTM model. In order to validate the promising performance of the proposed BDC-RSODL system, a comprehensive comparative analysis was conducted. The results obtained confirmed the supremacy of the proposed BDC-RSODL model over recent approaches. In future, the performance of the proposed model can be improved by feature reduction models.

Funding Statement: The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Large Groups Project under grant number (61/43). Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2022R319), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The authors would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University for supporting this work by Grant Code: (22UQU4340237DSR27). The author would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Shaqra University for supporting this work.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study.

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