Accountability at the Wireless Medium Access Control Layer, NSF, CNS-0737325,  (Research Grant),

Abstract

Accountability implies that an entity should be held responsible for its own specific actions. Once an event has transpired, the events that took place are traceable so that the causes can be determined afterwards. The goal of this project is to provide accountability within the MAC layer in wireless LANs by building multi-level, multi-resolution trace files of events, and designing a flow-net methodology. Successful completion of this project will enable people to effectively implement different degrees of accountability. There will be a significant impact on improving accountability in computers and networks. The broader impacts include the dissemination of results through publications, and the incorporation of algorithms into classes.
 

PI: Prof. Yang Xiao

Students:

New courses developed:

  1. Spring 2009: CS 691 Computer and Network Accountability

  2. Spring 2008: CS 691 Computer and Network Forensics

Publications (accepted and published)

Notes:

Dissertation:

  1. J. Liu, "Accountability in Smart Grid and Medical Sensor Network," Dissertation, The University of Alabama, 2013.

Journal Publications:

  1. J. Liu, Y. Xiao, and J. Gao, “Achieving Accountability in Smart Grids,” IEEE Systems Journal, DOI: 10.1109/JSYST.2013.2260697, accepted, 2013.

  2. Z. Xiao, Y. Xiao, and D. Du, "Non-repudiation in Neighborhood Area Networks for Smart Grid," IEEE Communications Magazine,  Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 18-26, Jan. 2013.

  3. Z. Xiao, Y. Xiao, and D. Du, "Exploring Malicious Meter Inspection in Neighborhood Area Smart Grids," IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, Vol. 4, No. 1, Mar. 2013, pp. 214-226. DOI: 10.1109/TSG.2012.2229397.

  4. J. Gao and Y. Xiao, "Design for Accountability in Multi-core Networks," Journal of Convergence, Vol. 3, No. 3, Sep. 2012, pp. 9-16.

  5. X. Liang, Y. Xiao, S. Ozdemir, A. V. Vasilakos, and H. Deng, "Cipher Feedback Mode under Go-back-N and Selective-reject Protocols in Error Channels," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, accepted.

  6. S. Ozdemir and Y. Xiao, "FTDA: Outlier Detection-based Fault-Tolerant Data Aggregation for Wireless Sensor Networks," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 702–710, June 2013. DOI: 10.1002/sec.604.

  7. Z. Xiao and Y. Xiao, “Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing,” IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, Vol. 15, No. 2, Second Quarter 2013, pp. 843-859. DOI: 10.1109/SURV.2012.060912.00182.

  8. Z. Xiao, N. Kathiresshan, and Y. Xiao, "A Survey of Accountability in Computer Networks and Distributed Systems," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks,  accepted.

  9. X. Liang and Y. Xiao, "Game Theory for Network Security," IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials,  Vol. 15, No. 1, First Quarter 2013, pp. 472 - 486. DOI: 10.1109/SURV.2012.062612.00056

  10. Y. Xiao, C.-C. Li, M. Lei, and S. V. Vrbsky, "Differentiated Virtual Passwords, Secret Little Functions, and Codebooks for Protecting Users from Password Theft," IEEE Systems Journal, DOI: 10.1109/JSYST.2012.2183755, accepted.

  11. J. Liu, Y. Xiao, S. Li, W. Liang, C. L. P. Chen, "Cyber Security and Privacy Issues in Smart Grids," IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, Vol. 14, NO. 4, pp. 981 - 997, Fourth Quarter 2012. DOI: 10.1109/SURV.2011.122111.00145

  12. Z. Xiao and Y. Xiao, "PeerReview re-evaluation for accountability in distributed systems or networks," International Journal of Security and Networks, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2012, pp. 40-58, DOI: 10.1504/IJSN.2012.048494

    13.

  13. D. Takahashi, Y. Xiao, and K. Meng, "Virtual Flow-net for Accountability and Forensics of Computer and Network Systems," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, DOI: 10.1002/sec.407, accepted.

  14. Y. Xiao, S. Yue, B. Fu, and S. Ozdemir, "GlobalView: Building Global View with Log Files in a Distributed / Networked System for Accountability," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, accepted.

  15. Y. Xiao, K. Meng, and D. Takahashi, “Accountability using Flow-net: Design, Implementation, and Performance Evaluation," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, Special Issue on Security and Privacy in Emerging Information Technologies, Vol.5, NO. 1, pp. 29–49, Jan. 2012, DOI: 10.1002/sec.348

  16. Y. Zhang, Y. Xiao, K. Ghaboosi, J. Zhang, and H. Deng, "A Survey of Cyber Crimes," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 422–437, Apr. 2012, DOI: 10.1002/sec.331.

    17.

  17. Y. Zhang, Y. Xiao, M. Chen, J. Zhang, and H. Deng, "A Survey of Security Visualization for Computer Network Logs," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 404–421, Apr. 2012, DOI: 10.1002/sec.324.

  18. S. Ozdemir and Y. Xiao, "Integrity protecting hierarchical concealed data aggregation for wireless sensor networks," Computer Networks, Vol. 55, No. 8, June, 2011, pp.1735–1746, doi:10.1016/j.comnet.2011.01.006.

  19. J. Liu, and Y. Xiao,“Temporal Accountability and Anonymity in Medical Sensor Networks,” ACM/Springer Mobile Networks and Applications (MONET), Special Issue: Wireless and Personal Communications, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 695-712, Dec. 2011, DOI: 10.1007/s11036-010-0254-6.

    20.

  20. A. Olteanu, Y. Xiao, F. Hu, B. Sun, and H. Deng, " A Lightweight Block Cipher Based on a Multiple Recursive Generator for Wireless Sensor Networks and RFID," Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (WCMC) Journal, Special Issue: Network Security and Digital Forensics in Next Generation Communications, John Wiley & Sons, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 254–266, Feb. 2011, DOI: 10.1002/wcm.988

  21. D. Takahashi, Y. Xiao, Y. Zhang, P. Chatzimisios, and H.-H. Chen, "IEEE 802.11 User Fingerprinting and Its Applications," (Elsevier) Computers and Mathematics with Applications, Vol. 60, No. 2, July 2010, pp. 307-318. doi:10.1016/j.camwa.2010.01.002

  22. A. Olteanu, Y. Xiao, and Y. Zhang, "Optimization between AES Security and Performance for IEEE 802.15.3 WPAN," IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Vol. 8, Nov. 12, Dec. 2009, pp. 6030-6037, DOI 10.1109/TWC.2009.12.090023

  23. A. Olteanu and Y. Xiao, "Security Overhead and Performance for Aggregation with Fragment Retransmission (AFR) in Very High-Speed Wireless 802.11 LANs," IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Vol. 9, No. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 218-226. DOI: 10.1109/TWC.2010.01.081291

  24. J. Liu, Y. Xiao, H. Chen, S. Ozdemir, S. Dodle, and V. Singh, "A Survey of Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard," IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 287-303, Third Quarter 2010, DOI: 10.1109/SURV.2010.031810.00083

  25. J. Liu, Y. Xiao, K. Ghaboosi, H. Deng, and, J. Zhang, "Botnet: Classification, Attacks, Detection, Tracing, and Preventive Measures," EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, Volume 2009, Article ID 692654, 11 pages, doi:10.1155/2009/692654

  26. Y. Xiao, "Flow-Net Methodology for Accountability in Wireless Networks," IEEE Network, Vol. 23, No. 5, Sept./Oct. 2009, pp. 30-37. DOI: 10.1109/MNET.2009.5274919

  27. K. Meng, Y. Xiao, and S. V. Vrbsky, "Building a Wireless Capturing Tool for WiFi," (Wiley Journal of) Security and Communication Networks, Vol. 2, No. 6, Nov./Dec. 2009, pp. 654 - 668, DOI 10.1002/sec.107

  28. Y. Xiao, "Accountability for Wireless LANs, Ad Hoc Networks, and Wireless Mesh Networks," IEEE Communication Magazine, special issue on Security in Mobile Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks, Vol. 46, No. 4, Apr. 2008, pp. 116-126. 10.1109/MCOM.2008.4481350
  29. D. Takahashi and Y Xiao, “Retrieving Knowledge from Auditing Log Files for Computer and Network Forensics and Accountability,” (Wiley Journal) Security and Communication Networks, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 147-160, March/April 2008, DOI: 10.1002/sec.10.
  30. B. Sun, Y. Xiao, and R. Wang, "Detection of Fraudulent Usage in Wireless Networks," IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Vol. 56, No.6, Nov. 2007, pp. 3912-3923. DOI: 10.1109/TVT.2007.901875
  31. B. Sun, L. Osborne, Y. Xiao, and S. Guizani, "Intrusion Detection Techniques in Mobile Ad Hoc and Wireless Sensor Networks," IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine, Special Issue on Security in Wireless Mobile Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks, Oct. 2007, pp.48-55. DOI: 10.1109/MWC.2007.4396943

  32. Y. Xiao, H. Chen, X. Du, and M. Guizani, ”Stream-based Cipher Feedback Mode in Wireless Error Channels,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Vol.8, No.2, Feb. 2009, pp. 622-626. DOI: 10.1109/TWC.2009.071278

  33. B. Sun, Y. Xiao, C. –C. Li, H. Chen, and T. A. Yang, “Security Co-existence of Wireless Sensor Networks and RFID for Pervasive Computing,” Computer Communications Journal, Elsevier, Special Issue on Secure Multi-Mode Systems and their Applications for Pervasive Computing, Vol. 31, No. 18, Dec. 2008, pp. 4294–4303. doi:10.1016/j.comcom.2008.05.035

    34.

Conference Publications:

  1. J. Liu and Y. Xiao, "An Accountable Neighborhood Area Network in Smart Grids," Proceedings of EMC 2012, pp 171-178.

  2. B. Fu and Y. Xiao, "Q-Accountable: A Overhead-based Quantifiable Accountability in Wireless Networks," Proceedings of IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference (IEEE CCNC 2012), pp. 138-142.

  3. Z. Xiao, Y. Xiao, and D. Du, "Building Accountable Smart Grids in Neighborhood Area Networks," Proceeding of The IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference 2011 (IEEE GLOBECOM 2011), accepted.

  4. L. Zeng, H. Chen, and Y. Xiao, "Accountable Administration and Implementation in Operating Systems," Proceeding of The IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference 2011 (IEEE GLOBECOM 2011), accepted.

  5. Z. Xiao and Y. Xiao, "Accountable MapReduce in Cloud Computing," in Proceedings of 2011 IEEE Conference on Computer Communications Workshops (INFOCOM WKSHPS), 2011, pp. 1082 - 1087.

  6. N. Kathiresshan, Z. Xiao, and Y. Xiao, "EagleEye: A Logging Framework for Accountable Distributed and Networked Systems," in Proceedings of 2011 IEEE Conference on Computer Communications Workshops (INFOCOM WKSHPS), 2011, pp. 958–963.

  7. J. Liu, Y. Xiao, and J. Gao, "Accountability in Smart Grids," Proceedings of IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference 2011 (IEEE CCNC 2011), Smart Grids Special Session, pp. 1166 – 1170.

  8. A. Olteanu, Y. Xiao, J. Liu, and T. M. Chen, "Studying Non-intrusive Tracing in the Internet," Proceedings of The 7th International ICST Conference on Heterogeneous Networking for Quality, Reliability, Security and Robustness (Qshine 2010).

  9. D. Takahashi, Y. Xiao, and K. Meng, "Creating User-Relationship-Graph in Use of Flow-net and Log Files for Computer and Network Accountability and Forensics," Proceedings of the IEEE Military Communications Conference 2010 (IEEE MILCOM 2010), pp. 1818 - 1823.

  10. Y. Xiao, K. Meng, and D. Takahashi, "Implementation and Evaluation of Accountability using Flow-net in Wireless Networks," Proceedings of the IEEE Military Communications Conference 2010 (IEEE MILCOM 2010), pp. 7 - 12 .

  11. X. Liang, Y. Xiao, T. Vasilakos, H. Deng, and K. Meng, "CFB under Sliding-Window Protocols in Error Channels," Proceedings of the IEEE Military Communications Conference 2010 (IEEE MILCOM 2010), pp. 1502 - 1507.

  12. S. Yue and Y. Xiao, "Building Global View with Log Files in a Distributed/Network System," Proceedings of the IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference 2010 (IEEE GLOBECOM 2010).

  13. B. Fu and Y. Xiao, "An Implementation Scheme of Flow-Net and Its Applications on Detecting Attacks in Wireless Networks," Proceedings of the IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference 2010 (IEEE GLOBECOM 2010).

  14. Z. Xiao, Y. Xiao, and J. Wu, “A Quantitative Study of Accountability in Wireless Multi-hop Networks,” Proceedings of 2010 39th International Conference on Parallel Processing (ICPP 2010), pp. 198 - 207.

  15. Z. Xiao and Y. Xiao, "PeerReview Analysis and Re-evaluation for Accountability in Distributed Systems or Networks," Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Information Security and Assurance (ISA2010), CCIS 76, pp. 149–162, 2010.

  16. Z. Xiao and Y. Xiao, "P-Accountable Networked Systems," Proceeding of INFOCOM 2010, Work in Progress (WIP) Track, acceptance rate is 28% (27 over 97). accepted and to appear

  17. D. Takahashi, Y. Xiao, Y. Zhang, H. Chen, and P. Chatzimisios, "IEEE 802.11 User Fingerprinting and Its Applications," Proceeding of The 2009 FTRG International Workshop on Advances in Cryptography, Security and Applications for Future Computing (ACSA-09), Jeju, Korea, December 11-12, 2009. pp. 15-24. (PPT file was published in the proceedings).

  18. D. Takahashi and Y. Xiao, "Complexity Analysis of Retrieving Knowledge from Auditing Log Files for Computer and Network Forensics and Accountability," Proc. of IEEE ICC 2008, pp.1474-1478.

  19. M. Lei, Y. Xiao and S. V. Vrbsky, "Active protection in wireless networking," Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Mobile Ad-hoc and Sensor Networks (MSN 2008), pp. 267-270.

  20. K. Meng, Y. Xiao, and J. Deng, "Attacking WLANs using OPNET Simulations," Proc. of OPNETWORK 2008.