Safeguarding the Internet: Contributions of Cybersecurity Researchers

In our daily lives, safeguarding the internet is very important. It helps us with many activities, like running businesses, talking to family, and controlling home devices. Key areas like transport, medical tools, farming machines, and security systems rely on it. Even money, once seen as “cash,” now exists online, with over 100 million users making virtual transactions.

However, thinking that this online connection is always safe is a mistake. The internet faces many threats. Cybersecurity is focused on protecting the internet and its users from modern cybercriminals. These criminals can be from countries, small groups, or even individuals causing trouble from home.

At the University of Oregon’s Department of Computer and Information Science, the importance of cybersecurity has grown. Faculty members at the UO Center for Cyber Security and Privacy collaborate with experts. These experts come from various fields, including philosophy, law, and business. They research ways to reduce threats to internet traffic, cryptocurrency, social media, infrastructure security, and more.

Thwarting DDoS Deniers

Lei Jiao is an assistant professor in the computer science department. He works on stopping Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks try to overload computers with too much data traffic. They can freeze a single computer, a group of computers, or even a large company. Jiao’s innovative work has gained him recognition, including a Ripple Labs fellowship for their cryptocurrency platform project.

A DDoS attack happens when bad actors flood a victim’s system with a huge amount of data. This overload makes it hard for the victim to do anything online. To fight these attacks, internet service providers like AT&T and Comcast run “scrubbing centres.” These centres have many computers that find and stop intruders. They filter out harmful traffic and send the good traffic to users. However, managing these centres is complex.

Jiao is leading the way in creating “smart algorithms.” These algorithms help make decisions quickly and protect the internet. “My algorithms will give clear guidance to internet service providers on how to handle each attack,” he says. This means they won’t need to rely on manual help.

Combatting Crypto-Criminals

Yingjiu “Joe” Li, a distinguished professor known for safeguarding the internet and his contributions to Ripple, along with PhD student Sanidhay Arora, is investigating flash loan attacks prevalent in cryptocurrency exchanges. Cryptocurrency, existing exclusively in digital format, is traded on decentralised platforms free from the oversight of traditional institutions like banks or governments. This convenience, combined with the absence of censorship or interference from third parties, has attracted over 100 million participants globally.

As the cryptocurrency market surpassed $3 trillion in 2021, its exponential growth has raised concerns about security. While decentralisation reduces hacking risks on exchanges like traditional stock markets, it also creates new avenues for cybercriminals. The ownership of individual “coins” is maintained in a digital ledger called a blockchain, distributed among network users. However, the security measures of blockchain exchanges often lag behind operational demands.

Li and Arora are delving into enhancing the security protocols governing these exchanges, specifically focusing on flash loan attacks. These attacks involve borrowing cryptocurrency assets, manipulating prices, and profiting in seconds. Through meticulous research and innovation, they aspire to prevent or detect such attacks, bolstering the safety of cryptocurrency users.

Safeguarding the Internet in the Face of Disaster

Ram Durairajan, an assistant professor, has embarked on a mission to bolster network resilience with the support of grants exceeding $3 million from the National Science Foundation and other sources. Collaborating with PhD student Matthew Hall, Durairajan’s work revolves around thwarting denial of service threats by reconfiguring data transmission paths.

He analogises network attacks to a museum theft, where altering the path of data transmission confounds attackers. Durairajan’s strategy entails recalibrating data paths at intervals, making it challenging for malicious actors to predict their course of action.

Durairajan’s endeavours extend to safeguarding network connectivity during natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and rising sea levels. Considering that the West Coast, including the Oregon Coast, hosts underwater fiber cables connecting continents, these areas are at risk. A subduction zone fault line adds to the vulnerability. Durairajan devised ShakeNet, an assessment tool evaluating earthquake-induced risks to wired and wireless infrastructure. This tool allows rerouting data during seismic events, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity by bypassing vulnerable areas.

Acknowledging the threat posed by climate change, Durairajan unveiled the vulnerability of fiberoptic cables to rising sea levels in areas including New York, Miami, and Seattle. Embracing a proactive approach to such challenges, Durairajan’s focus on worst-case scenarios stems from a commitment to ensuring safety and the seamless operation of the internet.