Cyber Attack Link Formation in a Network
Shiju Rawther, S Sathyalakshmi · International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology · 2023
The threat of cyber-attacks has become a major concern for organizations of all sizes. The linkage between different components is an important factor in detecting and mitigating cyber-attacks. An investigation of the link formation between cyber-attacks and a network is presented in this research article. This study analyzes the behaviour of attackers and the evolution of attack campaigns within a network and proposes a method for tracing the links between different components in an attack. Cyber-attacks are analyzed based on their characteristics, and the nature of them is revealed. The study results indicate that attackers often use multiple entry points and different attack methods to get into a target network. It has been observed that attackers tend to use infrastructure and techniques across campaigns, providing evidence of the existence of networks of attackers. Creating a link between the attack node and other nodes propagates a cyber-attack in a network. At equilibrium, cyber-attacks propagate through a centre-sponsored start network even though the choice of forming a link is probabilistic. A cyber-attack in a network is analyzed using probabilistic link formation in this paper for the formation of a centre-sponsored start network. This study will help organizations improve their cyber defences by improving their understanding of how cyber-attacks from their links.