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Behavior-Based, Localized Worm Detection Model Using Machine Learning Techniques

Project Name: Behavior-Based, Localized Worm Detection Model Using Machine Learning Techniques

 

Project Description:

The study addresses the problem of detecting computer worms on enterprise networks.

The methodology taken in this study uses concepts from the fields of computer security and machine learning, which allows designing intelligent detection methods. The study aims to train a neural network with good and bad behaviors to help identify worm patterns based on earlier experiences of what was in the training set. This is no easy task, because behaviors or behavior sequence patterns can change in new worms, and it is easy to over train the network, especially with limited training data sets. Behavior based detection can however be much better than signature based detection. The expected output of the research is a worm detection model based on monitoring and analyzing worm behaviors and using neural network technique for worm pattern recognition.

Project team:

  • PhD Student: Nelson Ochieng Odunga
  • Project Lead Supervisor: Dr. Waweru Mwangi:
  • Project Co- Supervisor: Dr. Ismail Ateya Lukandu

 
 
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The Research Committee in the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) has overall responsibility for guiding research activities in the Faculty. The committee sets the research agenda for the faculty, identifies research and funding opportunities, plans research programs, steers the proposal writing processes, and liaises with the Strathmore Research Office (SRO) to implement the research agenda. The committee also serves as the forum for reviewing and discussing policies, procedures and practices that involve research collaboration and coordination with other academic units of Strathmore University and other national and international organizations. The specific tasks and responsibilities of the committee include:

  • Preparing research strategies and policies for the faculty in line with the research vision of Strathmore University
  • Providing assistance on the initiation, preparation and review of project proposals to be forwarded to the Strathmore Research Office (SRO)
  • Providing assistance on the initiation, preparation and review of project proposals to be forwarded to potential funding agencies
  • Acting as a link to national and international funding councils, agencies and collaboration partners for research related to ICT
  • Advising SRO on matters to do with budgeting, research contract negotiations, commercialization and intellectual property rights related to ICT
  • Documenting published papers and/or technical reports emanating from or related to the work in the Faculty


Presently, the Faculty is involved in various research activities focusing on six thematic areas: Database Systems, Data Communications and Networks, Software Engineering, ICT for Development, Innovation and Technology Transfer and Information Systems and Management. The following is a brief description of each of these research activities.

Database Systems Research Group
The Database Systems Research Group is a team of faculty members working on database research projects. The group focuses on research issues related to database and information systems. Some of research issues include data warehousing, database and transformation tools, data-centric web site management and web middleware services, information visualization and discovery, multi-media query processing and optimization, distributed software systems, visual database interfaces, and other topics. The members of the research team include: Ismail Ateya, Nicodemus Maingi, Fanon Ananda, Antony Mwangi, and Bernard Shibwabo.

Data Communications and Networks Research Group
The Data Communications and Networks Group is a team of Faculty members and their students studying all aspects of computer communications and networks including analysis, technical design, engineering, measurement and management. The group’s research activities are particularly interested in topics related to the integration of the various aspects networking such as traffic modeling, admission control, scheduling, fairness, multipoint routing, network design and interoperability with wireless technologies. The members of the research team include: Patrick Shabaya, Maureen Olembo, Chrispinus Nandasaba and Phillip Neri.

Software Engineering Research Group
The Software Engineering Group is a team of Faculty members and their students studying all aspects of development and testing of software environments. Some of these topics include object oriented design, extensible object oriented design, multi-user distributed virtual worlds, context-based security within pervasive and ubiquitous environment; software architecture for integration of mobile agents, and software life-cycle models. The members of the research team include: Ismail Ateya, Peter Okech, Nelson Ochieng and John Matogo.

ICT for Development Research Group
The ICT for Development Research Group is a team of Faculty members and their students studying on how Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) may be employed to harness socio-economic development in Kenya and the East Africa region. Specifically the researchers are focused on researching Mobile Applications and Open Source technologies and the interface with the community and development. As mobile devices and their networking become affordable, reliable, and engrained into everyday lives the group has taken the initiative to layout research projects in these fields. The group is presently engaged in an HP funded research project that is investigating the use of ICT and how it can add value to learning and innovation in socially disadvantaged environments. The topic of the research is “Use of ICT in Enhancing Teaching and Curriculum Delivery in Marginalized Secondary Schools in Kenya” and its aim is help in building capacity and championing ICT use in secondary schools with little computing resources in Kenya. The members of the research team include: Joseph Sevilla, Tonny Omwansa, Rachel Mbogo, Emmanuel Kweyu, Fanon Ananda and Reuben Marwanga.

Innovation and Technology Transfer Research Group
The Innovation and Technology Transfer Group is a team of Faculty members and their students studying on how to move ideas from ICT laboratories in Kenyan institutions of higher learning and research to the marketplace and hence promote high-tech economic development. The group’s research work is intended to foster the innovations necessary to meet the nation's scientific and technological challenges and help with the commercialization those innovations by introducing entrepreneurial skills to high-tech research efforts. Through this process the technologies and products will be transferred from the laboratory to the marketplace. The group was recently awarded the 2009/2010 Science, Technology & Innovation (S T& I) Grant valued at KES 1.58M by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) to support Technological Innovation through investing in novel technology development and commercialization. The aim of this research grant is to establish a self-sustaining technology and business incubator within the Faculty of Information Technology. The incubator will be known as “Strathmore Innovation & Technology Transfer (SITT) Program.” Technology and business incubation programs are designed to accelerate the successful development and commercialization of innovations which is line with Strathmore University’s vision of becoming an entrepreneurial University. The members of the research team include: Reuben Marwanga, Nicodemus Maingi, Ismail Ateya, Isaac Kigen, Selina Evalia, Phillip Neri and Pius Walela.

Information Systems and Management Research Group
The Information Systems and Management Research Group is a team of Faculty members and their students focused on researching issues in information systems and their management in the business environment. Some of the topics the group is interested in include: role of information systems in organizations, enterprise and global systems, information systems & business strategy, information systems and competitive advantage, business process management, enterprise systems, supply chain management, e-commerce, e-government, e-health, and managing in the information age. The members of the research team include: Freddie Acosta, Nelson Ochieng, Antonny Mwangi, Rufina Kingori, and Karen Sowon.