Security Tomography and Layered Attacker Model

In today's fast-changing world of cybersecurity, traditional methods often can't keep up with growing cyber threats. This has led to new methods like security tomography and layered attacker models, which offer better and more active defense strategies. Security tomography uses various data points to make a map of an organization's security, much like medical scans create detailed images of the body.

By bringing together data from network traffic, user behavior, and threat intelligence, it can spot vulnerabilities and threats with more accuracy. The layered attacker model categorizes attackers into different levels based on their skills and the level of threat they pose. This helps organizations understand various types of threats and develop specific defenses for each level. Together, these methods build a stronger cybersecurity framework, making it easier to detect, analyze, and respond to threats in real time. With cyber threats constantly evolving, it's crucial to use advanced techniques like these to ensure robust digital protection.

What is Security Tomography?

Security tomography is a new idea that takes inspiration from medical imaging techniques, such as CT scans and applies them to the world of cybersecurity. It uses a bunch of different data points and perspectives to give a full picture of how secure an organization is. This helps us find and fix any weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited. So, it's like a super-powered security check for your organization.

Security Tomography in IoT is Mainly of Three Types

Security Tomography

IoT security tomography refers to the process of creating a detailed and accurate map of an IoT system's security vulnerabilities by analyzing and measuring its various components and communication channels. This can include identifying and analyzing network traffic, device configurations, and software vulnerabilities, intrusion detection, traffic analysis as well as monitoring for suspicious or malicious activity.

The goal of IoT security tomography is to identify and address potential security risks in an IoT system for protection against cyber-attacks and data breaches.

Computational Tomography

IoT computational tomography refers to the use of computational methods to infer the internal state or structure of a connected device or network of devices. This can include inferring the presence or absence of certain features or functionality, as well as identifying any potential vulnerabilities or performance issues. This can be done through techniques such as reverse engineering, simulation, and machine learning.

The goal of IoT computational tomography is to provide visibility into the internal workings of IoT devices and networks and to help identify and mitigate potential issues.

Network Tomography

IoT network tomography refers to the use of network measurements to infer the internal state or structure of a connected device or network of devices. This can include inferring the presence or absence of certain features or functionality. This can be done through techniques such as packet sniffing, traffic analysis, and network scanning. This type of tomography also includes:

• WSNs
• RFIDs Networks
• IoT Networks
• Allocating resources and ensuring the network reliability and security

The goal of IoT network tomography is to provide visibility into the internal workings of IoT devices and networks nd to help identify and mitigate potential issues.

Layered Attacker Model in IoT

A layered attacker model in IoT refers to a framework for understanding the different types of attacks that can be launched against IoT devices and networks, and the different layers of security that are required to protect against them.

This model has typically three layers-

1. Physical Layer

This is the layer of the device or network that is physically accessible. This layer is also known as the sensor layer or perception layer, this layer must collect the information from sensors and the identified things.

• Physical or service disturbance - it includes tampering with the devices and services.
• LAN node attack - it is done using MAC flooding or ARP poisoning
• Node capture - hazardous attack faced by this layer.
• Intercepting communications - using specialized tools to extract information from the device
• Timing attack - it observes how long a system takes to respond to different queries and inputs

2. Network Layer

This is the layer of the device or network that is responsible for communication and connectivity. This layer is also known as the transmission layer.

• Man-in-the-middle attacks - attackers secretly alter the communication between sender and receiver
• Denial of Service (DoS) Attack - this attack prevents users from accessing devices or other network resources
• Storage attack - threat/attacks on storage devices or cloud storage
• Unauthorized access to the network
• Packet sniffing and DoS attacks - such as ping floods and ICMP attacks

3. Application Layer

This is the layer of the device or network that is responsible for the processing and storage of data. Security is the key issue for the applications that use IoT technologies.

• Injection attacks - Cross-Site Scripting
• Privilege escalation
• The ability to deal with Mass Data
• Malicious Code Attack

Solutions/Suggestions for Mitigating Attacks on Layers

Several solutions can be used to prevent attacks on the different layers of an IoT system:

1. Physical Layer

To prevent physical attacks, it is important to secure the physical access to the device.

• Tamper-proof enclosures.
• Security cameras.
• Access control systems.
• Encryption algorithm for confidentiality and authentication.
• Link-level provisioning of security.

2. Network Layer

To prevent network-based attacks, it is important to use secure communication protocols and to properly configure network devices and firewalls.

• Usage of the temper-resistant router.
• Usage of packet filtering.
• A firewall between Layer 3 and Layer 4 reduces the risks by controlling routing messages and packet data.
• Also, intrusion detection and prevention systems can be used to detect and respond to network-based attacks.
• Using encryption, authentication, and secure key management.

3. Application Layer

To prevent application-based attacks, it is important to use secure coding practices and to properly secure and authenticate the device's operating system and applications.

• Using input validation.
• Access control and secure data storage.
• Using HTTPS communication links for Web applications.
• Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments can be used to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in the device's software.

Additionally, a monitoring and logging system can be implemented to detect and respond to attacks on any layer.

It is also important to have regular security updates and software checking in place to keep the device and systems updated with the latest security measures to prevent and minimize potential vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

In today's world, where cyber threats are on the rise, it's crucial to employ advanced security measures like security tomography and layered attacker models. These techniques give us a more comprehensive understanding of the security landscape, making it easier to identify and address vulnerabilities. By analyzing data in a structured way, we can effectively defend against attackers and develop proactive strategies. Taking a safer approach to cybersecurity not only protects our digital assets but also boosts our defenses against future threats, ensuring the security of interconnected systems worldwide.