Cutting-Edge DoS Attack Detection in Drone Networks: Leveraging Machine Learning for Robust Security

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Authors: Albandari Alsumayt, Naya Nagy, Shatha Alsharyofi, Resal Alahmadi, Renad Al-Rabie, Roaa Ali Alesse, Noor Alibrahim, Amal A. Alahmadi, Fatemah H. Alghamedy, Zeyad M. Alfawaer
Cited by: 1
References: 26

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the security of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within the Internet of Drones (IoD) ecosystem by detecting and preventing Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. We introduce DroneDefender, a web-based intrusion detection system (IDS) that employs machine learning (ML) techniques to identify anomalous network traffic patterns associated with DoS attacks. The system is evaluated using the CIC-IDS 2018 dataset and utilizes the Random Forest algorithm, optimized with the SMOTEENN technique to tackle dataset imbalance. Our results demonstrate that DroneDefender significantly outperforms traditional IDS solutions, achieving an impressive detection accuracy of 99.93%. Key improvements include reduced latency, enhanced scalability, and a user-friendly graphical interface for network administrators. The innovative aspect of this research lies in the development of an ML-driven, web-based IDS specifically designed for IoD environments. This system provides a reliable, adaptable, and highly accurate method for safeguarding drone operations against evolving cyber threats, thereby bolstering the security and resilience of UAV applications in critical sectors such as emergency services, delivery, and surveillance.

Fields of Study & Subjects

UAV Applications and Optimization Network Security and Intrusion Detection Software-Defined Networks and 5G

Publication details

Journal / source
Sci
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
20–20
Publication date
20 January 2026
Language
EN