Abiodun Akinwale

The widespread expansion of the internet has fueled a global surge in the utilization of various online transactions, with a significant portion of such services operating on mobile web platforms. Simultaneously, the deployment of innovative Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) technologies and mobile applications has grown as solutions for diverse tasks. Unfortunately, this progress has attracted the attention of hackers, who continually devise new strategies to exploit the vulnerabilities inherent in mobile networks. This study aims to address the escalating challenges posed by cyber threats in the era of widespread internet expansion, particularly focusing on securing mobile web platforms against sophisticated attacks such as Structured Query Language Injection (SQLi) for web-based database solutions and Denial of Service (DoS/DDoS) for various applications. In response to the identified vulnerabilities, this paper proposes an HTTP regeneration (HReg) model that not only detects various cyber-attacks but also ensures the uninterrupted provision of critical services during such incidents. The model introduces an innovative regeneration algorithm capable of scanning both the connection channel and web application to detect attacks, creating survivable connections within the underlying TCP engine to replace compromised ones during an ongoing attack. In simulated environments using OMNeT++, where the server is subjected to attacks, the experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the model. The response and performance metrics, including throughput (73%), delivery ratio (68.8%), delay (3s), and network load, showcase the model's ability to detect and neutralize attacks. A comparison with state-of-the-art approaches highlights the superior performance of the regeneration model, attributed to its additional survivability layer. While the regeneration model proves robust in simulated environments, its real-world application may encounter limitations. Future research should explore these limitations to enhance the practical applicability of the proposed model. The proposed HReg model's resilient performance under attack conditions ensures the survivability of web-based applications. This innovative approach offers practical implications for securing mobile web platforms, providing continuous delivery of critical services even in the face of persistent and evolving cyber threats. This research addresses a significant gap in existing efforts by not only focusing on attack detection but also emphasizing the development of a survivable TCP connection for HTTP servers during attacks. The introduced regeneration model stands out for its unique ability to maintain service continuity, showcasing originality in the approach to cybersecurity in the context of web-based applications.

Mobile wireless networks enable the connection of devices to a network with minimal or no infrastructure. This comes with the advantages of ease and cost-effectiveness, thus largely popularizing the network. Notwithstanding these merits, the open physical media, infrastructural-less attributes, and pervasive deployment of wireless networks make the channel of communication (media access) vulnerable to attacks such as traffic analysis, monitoring, and jamming. This study designed a virtual local area network (VLAN) model to circumvent virtual jamming attacks and other intrusions at the Media Access Control (MAC) layer of the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol. A Torpor VLAN (TVLAN) Data Frame Encapsulation and the algorithm for T-VLAN security in CSMA/CA were formulated and presented. A simulation experiment was conducted on the model using OMNeT++ software. The performance metrics used to evaluate the model were packet delivery ratio, network throughput, end-to-end channel delay, and channel load. The simulation results show that the TVLAN defence mechanism did not increase the channel load arbitrarily during TVLAN defence. similarly, the system throughput was shown to be 82% during TVLAN defence. Nevertheless, the network delay of the system during TVLAN defence was significantly high but the channel load was 297 when the TVLAN security mechanism was launched. These results demonstrate the model’s ability to provide a survivability mechanism for critical systems when under attack and add a security layer to the CSMA/CA protocol in wireless networks. Such a remarkable performance is required of a CSMA/CA infrastructure for improving the cybersecurity posture of a wireless network.