Artificial intelligence can help internet service providers prevent DDoS attacks before they happen, say researchers. Findings from the National University of Singapore and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, presented a new method in the peer-reviewed journal Computers & Security. The method uses machine learning to detect vulnerable smart home devices, which are an attractive target for hackers who assemble botnets to launch DDoS attacks. The machine learning detector does not invade customers' privacy and can pinpoint vulnerable devices even if they're not compromised. "To the best of my knowledge, telcos monitor the traffic and can only detect DDoS attacks once they are executed, which might be too late," Yair Meidan, Phd student at Ben-Gurion and the research team lead, told The Daily Swig. "In contrast, our method proposes means to detect potentially vulnerable IoT devices before they are compromised and being used to execute such attacks.

Machine learning could be the key to preventing cyber-attacks Image credit: Nexusby / Shutterstock / PortSwigger Ltd Artificial intelligence can help internet service providers prevent DDoS attacks before they happen, say researchers. Findings from the National University of Singapore and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, presented a new method in the peer-reviewed journal Computers & Security. The method uses machine learning to detect vulnerable smart home devices, which are an attractive target for hackers who assemble botnets to launch DDoS attacks.