InterSec: An interaction system for network security applications

Abstract

Traditional two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) visualization tools for network security applications often employ a desktop, mouse, and keyboard setup of WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, and a Pointer) interfaces, which use a serial set of command inputs (e.g., click, rotate, zoom). However, research has shown that multiple inputs (e.g., Microsoft Kinect [8] and multi-touch monitors) could reduce the selection time of objects, resulting in a quicker response time than its traditional counterparts. In this work, we investigate these alternative user interfaces that are “natural” to the user for multiple inputs that reduce response time as a user navigates within a complex three-dimensional (3D) visualization for network security applications. Specifically, we introduce a visualization tool called InterSec, an interaction system prototype for interacting with 3D network security visualizations. InterSec helps developers build and manage gestures that require the coordination of multiple inputs across multiple interaction technologies. To our knowledge, InterSec is the first tool that proposes a system to reduce number of interactions within 3D visualizations for network security tools. Through our evaluation of live Honeynet data and a user study, the results reveal InterSec's ability to reduce the number of interactions to aid in 3D navigation in comparison to the mouse user interface.