Detecting Software Attacks By Monitoring Electric Power Consumption Patterns

• US 20080276111A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America), Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
• Original Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Jacoby, Grant A., Marchany, Randolph C., Davis, Nathaniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3062 where the monitored property is the power consumption power management in a computing system G06F1/3203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations

Abstract

Software attacks such as worms and viruses are detected in an electronic device by monitoring power consumption patterns. In a first embodiment, software attacks are detected by an increase in power consumption. The increased power consumption can be caused by increased network traffic, or by increased activity in the microprocessor. Monitoring power consumption is particularly effective for detecting DOS/flooding attacks when the electronic device is in an idle state. In a second embodiment, a power consumption signal is converted to the frequency domain (e.g., by fast Fourier transform). The highest amplitude frequencies are identified. Specific software attacks produce characteristic frequencies in the power consumption signal. Software attacks are therefore detected by matching the highest amplitude frequencies with frequencies associated with specific worms and viruses. Identification of a particular software attack typically requires matching of 3 or more of the highest amplitude frequencies, and, optionally, amplitude information.

Claims

1. An information processing electronic device capable of detecting undesired software, comprising:

a) a sensor for detecting an amount of electrical power or current consumed by the electronic device;

b) a threshold detector for comparing the detected electrical power or current to a threshold value, and for indicating that undesired software may be present when the threshold value is exceeded.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a network interface circuit (NIC), and a microprocessor (MP), wherein the sensor detects an amount of electrical power or current consumed by the NIC and the MP.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the sensor can detect an amount of electrical power or current consumed by the NIC or MP individually.

4. A method for detecting undesired software in an information processing electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting an amount of electrical power or current consumed by the electronic device;

b) comparing the detected electrical power or current to a threshold value, and

c) indicating that undesired software may be present when the threshold value is exceeded.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the detected power or current exceeds the threshold value in step (b), then alerting a user or microprocessor or network administrator that undesired software is or might be present.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) is performed periodically.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, if the detected power or current exceeds the threshold value in a plurality of consecutive measurements, then indicating to a user or microprocessor that undesired software may be operating.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic device is a network interface circuit or microprocessor.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of adjusting the threshold value according to an operating mode of the electronic device.

10. An information processing electronic device capable of detecting undesired software, the electronic device comprising:

a) a sensor for detecting a power consumption signal representing power or current consumed by the electronic device;

b) a detector for detecting a frequency signature of the power consumption signal; and

c) a comparator for comparing the detected frequency signature to a database of frequency signatures associated with undesired software.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a buffer for temporarily storing the power consumption signal from the sensor, such that the detector can retroactively determine a frequency signature of recent power consumption.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the frequency signature includes amplitude information.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, further comprising a network interface circuit (NIC), and a microprocessor (MP), wherein the detector detects a frequency signature of the NIC or MP individually.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the detector and comparator are implemented as software, firmware or hardware.

15. A method for detecting undesired software in an information processing electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a frequency signature of a power consumption signal representing electrical power or current consumed by the electronic device; and

b) comparing the detected frequency signature to a database of frequency signatures associated with undesired software.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if a match is found in step (b), then alerting a user or microprocessor or network administrator that undesired software is or might be present.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the frequency signatures include amplitude information.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the step of discriminating against all frequencies having amplitudes less than a predetermined confidence threshold.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein each frequency signature includes at least 3 frequency components.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of identifying a type of undesired software that may be operating based on a match between the detected frequency signature and a matching frequency signature stored in the database.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises a network interface circuit (NIC), and a microprocessor (MP), and wherein frequency signatures of the NIC or MP are detected individually.

22. An information processing electronic device capable of identifying a type of communication protocol used by undesired software, the electronic device comprising:

a) a sensor for detecting a power consumption signature representing power or current consumed by the electronic device; and

b) a comparator for comparing the detected power consumption signature to a power signature database, wherein the database associates power consumption signatures with types of communication protocols.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, further comprising a means for smoothing the power consumption signature.

24. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the database includes:

a) data associating a Transmission Control (TC) protocol with a power consumption signature having a single continuous plateau; and

b) data associating a Universal Datagram (UD) protocol with a power consumption signature having an initial plateau followed by at least one short plateau and at least one lull.

25. The electronic device of claim 22, further comprising a network interface circuit (NIC), and a microprocessor (MP), wherein the sensor detects a power consumption signature of the NIC or MP individually.

26. A method for identifying a type of communication protocol active in an information processing electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a power consumption signature of electrical power or current consumed by the electronic device; and

b) comparing the detected power consumption signature to a database associating power consumption signatures with types of communication protocols.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein if a match is found in step (b), then alerting a user or microprocessor or network administrator of the type of communication protocol.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein step (b) is performed manually.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the detecting step includes the step of smoothing the power consumption signature.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of identifying the communication protocol as a Universal Datagram (UD) protocol if the power consumption signal includes an initial plateau followed by a plurality of alternating short plateaus and lulls.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of identifying the communication protocol as a Transmission Control (TC) protocol or Internet Control Message protocol if the power consumption signal consists of a single continuous plateau.