Security Community Research Articles

Christian Leuprecht and Hayley McNorton, Intelligence as Democratic Statecraft: Accountability and Governance of Civil-Intelligence Relations Across the Five Eyes Security Community – the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

Christian Leuprecht and Hayley McNorton, <i>Intelligence as Democratic Statecraft: Accountability and Governance of Civil-Intelligence Relations Across the Five Eyes Security Community – the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand</i>

LEVELS OF FOOD SECURITY: DEFINITION AND FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THEM

Objective. The objective of the study is to determine the levels of food security (individual, household, community, national and global) and to identify the factors that affect food security at each level. Methods. The study used general scientific methods and research techniques: theoretical generalization and comparison (to summarize the definitions of each level of food security), analysis and synthesis (to identify the characteristic factors of influence at each level of food security), deduction-induction (to substantiate each level of food security). Results. It has been determined that the allocation of levels (individual, household, community, national and global) within the theory of food security is based on the definition of food availability, quality and safety. The main factors that affect food security at each level are identified. At the individual level: physical access to food, dietary diversity, social and economic determinants of food access, the broader context of food systems and policies; at the household level: access to adequate food, stability, affordability, nutritional adequacy, utilization, cultural acceptability, sustainability; at the community level: access to food, food availability, food quality, food system sustainability, social justice, food production, emergency reserves, and food security. Improving food security requires concerted efforts at all levels. Global initiatives must be supported by national policies that take into account local circumstances and needs. It is also important to provide support at the individual level through increased income, education and access to social services. A comprehensive approach that combines these measures can significantly improve food security and ensure a healthy future for all people.

MaDroid: A maliciousness-aware multifeatured dataset for detecting android malware

System call sequences representing the runtime behavior of an application is particularly useful for anomaly detection in mobile applications. However, one of the main obstacles in this area is the lack of publicly available high-quality datasets. Because of the low computational power and storage constraints of mobile application platforms, a single mobile device cannot accomplish the task of massively installing applications and extracting interaction details with the operating system, making it extremely challenging to build large-scale fine-grained system call datasets. In this paper, we present the MaDroid dataset. It is the first comprehensive dataset and benchmark for anomaly detection in mobile applications using high-dimensional feature sequence data and maliciousness, and the first to incorporate virus total rating (VT) values into dataset features. It is constructed based on an automated collection framework that collects system call sequences from simulation environments at a fine-grained level for both normal and malicious mobile applications. The dataset is 457 GB in size and consists of 50,429 labeled system call sequences. The dataset covers mobile applications released at different times over the past 14 years, and the selected applications span across 10 major mainstream APP markets. We extract different feature subsets from the dataset and perform evaluations using RF, MLP, and GBDT to show the effectiveness and accuracy in detecting malicious mobile APPs. Our dataset can be a useful resource for security and machine learning community.

Policy Approaches to Combat Livestock Theft and Enhance Security

Purpose: This study sought to analyze policy approaches to combat livestock theft and enhance security. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to policy approaches to combat livestock theft and enhance security. Preliminary empirical review revealed that a multi-faceted approach is essential to effectively address livestock theft. It emphasized the importance of integrating legislative measures, technological innovations, community-based initiatives, and enhanced law enforcement efforts. Technologies like GPS tracking and RFID tags were found effective but required financial support for widespread adoption. Community involvement and education were highlighted as critical for local surveillance and theft prevention. The study also underscored the need for robust legislative frameworks and international cooperation to deter theft and ensure consistent enforcement Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Routine Activity Theory, Rational Choice Theory and Situational Crime Prevention Theory may be used to anchor future studies on policy approaches on combating livestock theft and enhance security. The study concluded that an integrated approach, including advanced security technologies, community involvement, and robust legislative frameworks, was essential for effectively reducing livestock theft. It highlighted the need for financial incentives to help farmers adopt GPS tracking and RFID tags, expanded community-based initiatives like Farm Watch, and stricter penalties for theft. The study also emphasized the importance of international cooperation for standardizing livestock identification practices and supporting cross-border law enforcement efforts. These recommendations aimed to enhance livestock security, mitigate financial losses, and improve community resilience Keywords: Livestock Theft, Livestock Security, Legislative Measures, Advanced Security Technologies, GPS Tracking, RFID Tags

Terrorism in Northern Nigeria and the Proliferation of Small and Light Weapons

The advent of technology has acted as a catalyst to the propensity and intensity of acts of terrorism across the globe owing to the production of Small and Light Weapons (SALW), which are easy to handle and deploy in conflict situations. This paper aims at examining the influence of the proliferation of SALW on terrorism in Northern Nigeria, which is largely perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). The paper revealed that the proliferation of SALWs have significantly contributed to the recurrence and ferociousness of terrorism in Northern Nigeria. The paper also revealed that despite the copious legal framework regulating the use of arms and light weapons, arms have become a free-for-all particularly, in the hands of non-state actors in Nigeria. The resultant effects of this proliferation are loss of lives; wanton damage and destruction of properties and means of livelihood; displacements; economic downturn etc. The paper concludes that the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (Convention) should be operational in Nigeria. However, reliance cannot be placed on legislation alone as a means of controlling the proliferation of arms but it is imperative for other measures to be in place such as an institutional framework involving the re-jig of the Nigerian security apparatus and community involvement in the control of SALW.

Energy Cooperatives and Communities to Foster Social Innovation in the EU – a Bulgarian Case Study – Prospects and Barriers

Abstract The paper aims to identify how energy cooperatives and energy communities could affect the social innovation within the European Union as a whole and specifically in Bulgaria. It begins with an applicable legislation and energy policy analysis and provides a helicopter view of the regulatory framework connected with the energy communities and copperatives on both European and national level, as well as the opportunities for their future development. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the gaps, which consists of a bibliometric and a content analysis and outlines a growing interest in those relatively new energy formations that promote renewable energy sources, enhance energy security and empower local communities. It highlights the current research gap and endorses the need for the conduction of some additional deeper researches and empirical studies. The SWOT analysis provides an in-depth assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threads of those energy formations in Bulgaria, with an emphasis on their advantages and the challenges in front of them. The results provide a clear understanding of the factors that can help the growth and sustainability of those energy organizations and how they can endorse the energy transition in the country and in the European Union as a whole.

Intelligent model for the detection and classification of encrypted network traffic in cloud infrastructure

This article explores detecting and categorizing network traffic data using machine-learning (ML) methods, specifically focusing on the Domain Name Server (DNS) protocol. DNS has long been susceptible to various security flaws, frequently exploited over time, making DNS abuse a major concern in cybersecurity. Despite advanced attack, tactics employed by attackers to steal data in real-time, ensuring security and privacy for DNS queries and answers remains challenging. The evolving landscape of internet services has allowed attackers to launch cyber-attacks on computer networks. However, implementing Secure Socket Layer (SSL)-encrypted Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) transmission, known as HTTPS, has significantly reduced DNS-based assaults. To further enhance security and mitigate threats like man-in-the-middle attacks, the security community has developed the concept of DNS over HTTPS (DoH). DoH aims to combat the eavesdropping and tampering of DNS data during communication. This study employs a ML-based classification approach on a dataset for traffic analysis. The AdaBoost model effectively classified Malicious and Non-DoH traffic, with accuracies of 75% and 73% for DoH traffic. The support vector classification model with a Radial Basis Function (SVC-RBF) achieved a 76% accuracy in classifying between malicious and non-DoH traffic. The quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) model achieved 99% accuracy in classifying malicious traffic and 98% in classifying non-DoH traffic.

Democratic Identity, Political Policing, and the Other side of the US-Canada Security Community

Canada and the US maintain one of the closest international partnerships in the world, but there are concerns about its future. Donald Trump's election generated anxieties about the rise of autarkic or authoritarian politics in the region. These worries persist as it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration was a temporary interruption to liberal governance or a signifier of more profound change. Canadian security scholars have contemplated whether an illiberal shift may disrupt the US-Canada security community. This article intervenes in these discussions by emphasizing the extent to which prejudices and political policing have fostered the community's emergence and operation. Archival investigation reveals that illiberal practices have proven reconcilable with a liberal identity throughout the community's development. Therefore, without dismissing existing concerns, we should be vigilant of the possibility that the security community may be internalized within democratic retrenchment, rather than corroded by it.

Research and application of push model based on digital twin for complex solutions

In order to solve the selection problems such as multiple products, complex scenarios, and difficulty in supporting complex solutions, the product selection push model for complex solutions was proposed, the selection cloud platform was set up, and the platform architecture, composition, and operating mechanism were given. Based on the digital twin five-dimensional framework, the modeling process of the product selection cloud platform was detailed, and in the demand stage, the function model of the model was determined by the collaborative filter algorithm, which gave a comprehensive description of its functions. Through the construction of multi-platform fusion and algorithm model, the active push, scheme automatic process, and verification function of solution product selection have been realized. The solution has been applied in the selection of the smart security community scheme, verifying the effectiveness and practicality of the platform.

Irreconcilable Differences? NATO's Response to Russian Aggression Against Ukraine

With Russia's full-spectrum war in Ukraine, NATO is rethinking its force posture and responding in ways that are consistent with its norms and identity as an alliance. While the war has been framed by some as a vindication of structural realism, we instead revisit constructivist arguments about security communities. This literature, which foregrounds learning and socialization processes, advanced scholarly and policy debates from NATO enlargement to defence sector reform. By contrast, how security communities engage with adversaries has received less attention. Noting the obvious balancing dynamics on display, we emphasize how threats take on particular meanings, which shape the types of military options considered. We also provide an explanation for NATO's resilience in the face of this external shock. Alliance disunity notwithstanding, we argue that collective defence is being redefined in real time, through dynamics that are not exclusively bound by a narrow focus on the military threat posed by Russia.

The diffusion of malicious content on Twitter and its impact on security

While Twitter remains one of the most popular social media networks within the information security community, threat actors continue to abuse the platform to create, share, and spread malicious contents. In this study, we focus on whether Twitter- and vulnerability-related features can help predict vulnerabilities known to be actively exploited. Using a sample of 6004 tweets, results show that Twitter features (tweets and quote tweets) that combine the benefits of both content creation and sharing can predict active exploitation of vulnerabilities. Furthermore, findings show that certain technical and vulnerability-related features are also capable of predicting active exploitations.

A Survey on Satellite Communication System Security.

In recent years, satellite communication systems (SCSs) have rapidly developed in terms of their role and capabilities, promoted by advancements in space launch technologies. However, this rapid development has also led to the emergence of significant security vulnerabilities, demonstrated through real-world targeted attacks such as AcidRain and AcidPour that demand immediate attention from the security community. In response, various countermeasures, encompassing both technological and policy-based approaches, have been proposed to mitigate these threats. However, the multitude and diversity of these proposals make their comparison complex, requiring a systemized view of the landscape. In this paper, we systematically categorize and analyze both attacks and defenses within the framework of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, focusing on specific threats that pose substantial risks to SCSs. Furthermore, we evaluate existing countermeasures against potential threats in SCS environments and offer insights into the security policies of different nations, recognizing the strategic importance of satellite communications as a national asset. Finally, we present prospective security challenges and solutions for future SCSs, including full quantum communication, AI-integrated SCSs, and standardized protocols for the next generation of terrestrial-space communication.

The use of Virtual Private Network in the Context of “Bring Your Own Device” in the Post Covid-19 Remote Workplace

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for remote work provides an added layer of security by encrypting the internet connection. It helps protect sensitive data and prevents unauthorized access. With a VPN, employees can securely access company resources and files from anywhere in the world. This allows for greater flexibility in work arrangements and enables employees to collaborate seamlessly. Implementing a VPN as a remote workplace solution can lead to cost savings for businesses. It eliminates the need for physical office space and reduces expenses associated with commuting and travel. While VPNs offer numerous benefits for remote work, it is crucial for organizations to implement proper security measures and educate employees on best practices to realize this technology's full potential. This article explores the change in the use of VPNs during and after the Covid-19 pandemic era. A short literature review precedes the opinion of the information security community about the usage and role of VPNs in efficiently securing information and information systems.

Invisible Border Security: Vulnerabilities and Risks to New Zealand’s Resilience

In New Zealand, border security mechanisms depend on input from a wide range of agencies and are supported by national security strategic efforts. New Zealand’s resilience in protecting itself from vulnerabilities and risks at the border requires an assurance that there are no gaps in these mechanisms. This article shows that there are in fact gaps in these mechanisms and highlights the invisibility of border security within the national security context. It points to a lack of awareness about how the extensive number of agencies involved contribute to border security. It reveals that governance of the complex border environment is currently beyond the bounds of possibility, and the alignment of strategic priorities for the large number of agencies with an interest in border outcomes is problematic. Furthermore, the collaboration between agencies requires more than formal arrangements. This article argues for the New Zealand Government to develop the concept of a Border Security Community — a concept that, if enacted, is likely to improve New Zealand’s resilience in protecting itself from vulnerabilities and risks at the border.

Sniping at web applications to discover input-handling vulnerabilities

Web applications play a crucial role in modern businesses, offering various services and often exposing sensitive data that can be enticing to attackers. As a result, there is a growing interest in finding innovative approaches for discovering vulnerabilities in web applications. In the evolving landscape of web security, the realm of fuzz testing has garnered substantial attention for its effectiveness in identifying vulnerabilities. However, existing literature has often underemphasized the nuances of web-centric fuzzing methodologies. This article presents a comprehensive exploration of fuzzing techniques specifically tailored to web applications, addressing the gap in the current research. Our work presents a holistic perspective on web-centric fuzzing, introduces a modular architecture that improves fuzzing effectiveness, demonstrates the reusability of certain fuzzing steps, and offers an open-source software package for the broader security community. By addressing these key contributions, we aim to facilitate advancements in web application security, empower researchers to explore new fuzzing techniques, and ultimately enhance the overall cybersecurity landscape.

Secure communities as immigration enforcement: How secure is the child care market?

Immigrants comprise nearly 20% of the child care workforce in the U.S. This paper studies the impact of a major immigration enforcement policy, Secure Communities (SC), on the structure and functioning of the child care market. Relying on the staggered introduction of SC across counties between 2008 and 2014, we find that the program reduced children’s participation in center-based child care programs. The estimated reductions are substantially larger among advantaged children and in jurisdictions with a greater fraction of undocumented individuals. We also find that SC reduced the equilibrium supply and wages of immigrant and native workers in the center-based sector as well as the number of center-based facilities. There is no compensating increase in the home-based or private household sectors. Our findings suggest that immigrants and natives are likely to be complements in child care service production.

Covid-19 pasekmės transatlantinio saugumo bendruomenei

Although there were many disagreements in transatlantic relations before the COVIC-19, the pandemic accelerated tensions in transatlantic relations even more. The inauguration of the new US president Joe Biden, however, has been perceived as a new chapter in transatlantic relations. The paper aims to assess the COVID-19 pandemic implications to transatlantic relations and answer the question of whether the pandemic has strengthened or weakened the transatlantic security community? The paper stems from the idea that transatlantic countries compose a transatlantic security community. It examines the COVID-19 implications to several tiers of features that should be present in every security community: namely, implications to the perception of threats, patterns of communication and policy coordination, as well as to institutional framework. The paper argues that COVID-19 has not transformed the transatlantic security community; however, it highlighted certain problematic aspects of transatlantic relations.

Research on Secure Community Opportunity Network Based on Trust Model

With the innovation of wireless communication technology and the surge of data in mobile networks, traditional routing strategies need to be improved. Given the shortcomings of existing opportunistic routing strategies in transmission performance and security, this paper proposes a community opportunistic routing decision-making method based on the trust model. This algorithm calculates the node’s trust value through the node’s historical forwarding behavior and then calculates the node’s trust value based on the trust model. Thresholds and trust attenuation divide dynamic security communities. For message forwarding, nodes in the security community are prioritized as next-hop relay nodes, thus ensuring that message delivery is always in a safe and reliable environment. On this basis, better relay nodes are further selected for message forwarding based on the node centrality, remaining cache space, and remaining energy, effectively improving the message forwarding efficiency. Through node trust value and community cooperation, safe and efficient data transmission is achieved, thereby improving the transmission performance and security of the network. Through comparison of simulation and opportunistic network routing algorithms, compared with traditional methods, this strategy has the highest transmission success rate of 81% with slightly increased routing overhead, and this algorithm has the lowest average transmission delay.

Enhancing Global Food Security: Opportunities for the American Meteorological Society

Abstract Food security is a key pillar of environmental security yet remains one of the world’s greatest challenges. Its obverse, food insecurity, negatively impacts health and well-being, drives mass migration, and undermines national security and global sustainable development. Ensuring food security is a delicate balance of myriad concerns within the atmospheric and Earth sciences, agronomy and agriculture engineering, social sciences, economics, monitoring, and policymaking. A Food Security Presidential Session at the American Meteorological Society’s (AMS) 2022 Annual Meeting brought together experts across disciplines to tackle issues at the nexus of weather, climate, and food security. The starkest takeaway was the realization that, despite its importance and clear roles for the atmospheric and climate sciences, food security has not been a focus for the AMS community. The aim of this paper is to build on the perspectives shared by this expert panel and to identify overlapping issues and key points of intersection between the food-security community and AMS. We examine 1) the interactions between weather, climate, and the food system and how they influence food security; 2) the time and spatial scales of food security decision support that match weather and climate phenomena; 3) the role of both providers and users of information as well as decision-makers in improving research to operations for food security; and 4) the opportunities for the AMS community to address food security. We conclude that, moving forward, the AMS community is well-positioned to scale up its engagement across the global food system to address existing scientific needs and technology gaps to improve global food security.

Proliferations of Gated Communities and the Fear of Crimes: An Empirical Study of Some Select Gated Communities in Zaria and Sabon Gari Local Government Areas, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Gated communities are becoming increasingly popular in Zaria and Sabon Gari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. The objectives of the study were to investigate the reasons for the proliferation of gated communities, and their safety and security. The study adopted the Defensible Space Theory. This article which is an empirical endeavour used the qualitative method in collecting and analysing data. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit primary data. Key findings of the study revealed that the proliferation of gated communities was a result of the high level of insecurity and the quest for a secure community. The study further discovered that informants interviewed in the gated communities feel safe and secure against all forms of criminal activities. The study recommends that the Kaduna State government should design a policy that will make gated communities a residential development pattern in urban areas like Zaria and Sabon Gari.