Binary Hunter-Prey Optimization with Machine Learning-Based Cybersecurity Solution on Internet of Things Environment

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial Intelligence

Background:

• The Internet of Things (IoT) facilitates connectivity for everyday objects, leading to widespread technological integration.
• However, the rapid expansion of IoT devices introduces significant security vulnerabilities, making them susceptible to cyber threats.
• Phishing attacks, aimed at fraudulent data extraction, are increasingly targeting IoT devices, posing a growing risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an effective method for detecting phishing attacks specifically within the Internet of Things (IoT) environment.
• To enhance the security of IoT networks and devices against sophisticated phishing scams.
• To improve the accuracy and efficiency of phishing attack detection using machine learning and optimization algorithms.

Main Methods:

• A Binary Hunter-Prey Optimization with Machine Learning-based Phishing Attack Detection (BHPO-MLPAD) method is proposed.
• The BHPO algorithm is utilized for optimal feature selection, identifying crucial data points for attack detection.
• A Cascaded Forward Neural Network (CFNN) model, optimized by the Variable Step Fruit Fly Optimization (VFFO) algorithm, performs the phishing attack classification.

Main Results:

• The BHPO-MLPAD technique demonstrated superior performance in identifying phishing attacks compared to existing methods.
• The method achieved high accuracy in feature selection and classification tasks within the IoT context.
• Evaluation on a benchmark dataset confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed approach across various performance metrics.

Conclusions:

• The BHPO-MLPAD method offers a robust solution for detecting phishing attacks in IoT environments.
• The integration of advanced optimization and machine learning techniques significantly improves cybersecurity for connected devices.
• This research contributes to securing the expanding landscape of the Internet of Things against evolving cyber threats.