SecureNet - Network Security - Protection

Objective

The objective of the work is the systematic study and further development of methods to defend open computer networks against attack by malicious software, including viruses.
A project was set up to demonstrate the feasibility of the development of products for defending open computer networks against malicious software. The definition phase was divided into 5 work packages (WP) to be considered over 10 months. WP1 covered the collection and classification of threats of integrated broadband communication (IBC) environments namely, case studies of virus classification, modes of mobile viruses, detection capabilities and known weaknesses of IBC networks. WP2 covered the investigation of heuristic and formal algorithms for the detection, diagnosis and neutralisation, as well as selfcorrecting distributed computation (SDC) techniques for the provision of a trusted environment and the implications on IBC. WP3 consisted of the definition of an overall system concept, and WP4 covered the cost benefit analysis and selection of the most promising combinations of these techniques. WP5 covered the design and implementation specifications for a product (ie a set of tools) which incorporated the case selected in WP4. The project results indicated the necessity to attack the problem of detecting malicious software by monitoring system behaviour rather than by using the appearance of the malicious code itself. The wider applicability of the concepts in terms of analysing very large log audit files, for example, was also identified.
Technical Approach

The basic concept revolves around the co-operation of a neural net with an expert system and the use of self-correcting distributed computation (SDC) techniques.

The neural net component is responsible for the adaptive classification of events and the expert system uses the input from the neural net to perform a diagnosis and propose or perform neutralisation of any incurred damage. SDC techniques will be used to enhance immunity and to provide a minimum trusted environment.

During 1992, the project was in a definition phase whose success was intended to demonstrate the feasibility of the development of products for defending Open Computer Networks against malicious software.

The definition phase was divided into five work packages to be considered over 10 months. WP1 covered the collection and classification of threats of IBC environment namely, case studies of virus classification, modes of mobile viruses, detection capabilities and known weaknesses of IBC networks.

WP2 covered the investigation of heuristic and formal algorithms for the detection, diagnosis and neutralisation, as well as SDC techniques for the provision of a trusted environment and the implications on IBC.

WP3 consisted of the definition of an overall system concept, and WP4 covered the cost/benefit analysis and selection of the "most promising" combination of these techniques.

Finally, WP5 covered the design and implementation specifications for a product (i.e. a set of tools) which incorporated the case selected in WP4.

Key Issues

R&D is needed into methods of defence against specific forms of attack on software, notably "viruses" and "worms". This is because of the rising frequency of such attacks and the regrettably large number of people willing and able to devise and launch them. Viruses are important in view of the following:

Their extensive reproduction capability.
Detecting their origin is an undecidable problem.
They have the ability to completely alter (hence destroy) data.
Techniques for defence tend not to be preventive.

Expected Impact

The Project results indicate the necessity to attack the problem of detecting malicious software by monitoring system behaviour rather than by using the appearance of the malicious code itself. The wider applicability of the concepts in terms of analysing very large log/audit files, for example, was also identified.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › software
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › computer security › malicious software
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › artificial intelligence › expert systems
• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › computer security › network security
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › information engineering › telecommunications › telecommunications networks

Programme(s)

• FP3-RACE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of communication technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• T.881 - Malicious software and IBC
• T.883 - Generic security servers design and prototypes
• PL6 - Project line 6 - Information security

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Data not available

Coordinator

Expertnet Ltd

Address

Dioharous Str 8
11528 Athens
Greece

Participants (6)

CCC SOFTWARE PROFESSIONALS

Finland

Dassault Automatismes et Télécommunications

France

Address

9 Rue Elsa Triolet Zone Industrielle Des Gatines
78373 Plaisir

Forschungsinstitut für anwendungsorientierte Wissensverarbeitung Ulm

Germany

Address

Helmholtzstraße 16
89081 Ulm

France Télécom

France

Address

38-40 Rue Du Général Leclerc
92131 Issy-les-moulineaux

Institute of Inform. Proc. Science

Finland

UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN

Greece

Address

University Hill, Administration Bldg.