Towards Detecting and Classifying Network Intrusion Traffic Using Deep Learning Frameworks

Ram B. Basnet1+, Riad Shash1, Clayton Johnson1, Lucas Walgren1, and Tenzin Doleck2
 

1Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501 USA

rbasnet@coloradomesa.edu, {rshash, cpjohnson, lawalgren}@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

2McGill University, Quebec, CA

tenzin.doleck@mail.mcgill.ca

 

 

Abstract

Recent breakthroughs in deep learning algorithms have enabled researchers and practitioners to make significant progress in various hard computer science problems and applications from computer vision and perception, natural language processing and interpretation to complex reasoning tasks such as playing board games (e.g., Go, Chess, etc.) and even overthrowing human champions. Considering the expected acceleration and increase in computer threats, in this article, we explore the utility and capability of deep learning algorithms in the important area of network intrusion detection. We apply and compare various state-of-the-art deep learning frameworks (e.g., Keras, TensorFlow, Theano, fast.ai, and PyTorch) in detecting network intrusion traffic and also in classifying common network attack types using the recent CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset. Experimental results show that fast.ai, a highly opinionated wrapper for PyTorch, provided the highest accuracy of about 99% with low false positive and negative rates in both detecting and classifying various intrusion types. Our results provide evidence of the utility of various deep learning frameworks detecting network intrusion traffic.

Keywords: Intrusion Detection, Deep Learning, Network Security, Web Security, Brute Force,
Machine Learning, IDS

 

+: Corresponding author: Ram B. Basnet

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Colorado Mesa University, 1100 North Aveneue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 USA, Tel: +1-970-248-1682, Web: https://rambasnet.github.io

 

Journal of Internet Services and Information Security (JISIS), 9(4): 1-17, November 2019

DOI: 10.22667/JISIS.2019.11.30.001 [pdf]