A study on techniques for proactively identifying malicious urls
Published in 2015 17th International Symposium on Symbolic and Numeric Algorithms for Scientific Computing (SYNASC), 2015
Recommended citation: Popescu, Adrian Stefan and Prelipcean, Dumitru Bogdan and Gavrilut, Dragos Teodor, "A study on techniques for proactively identifying malicious urls." 2015 17th International Symposium on Symbolic and Numeric Algorithms for Scientific Computing (SYNASC), pages 204-211, IEEE, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/SYNASC.2015.38
Abstract
This paper investigates various techniques for proactively identifying malicious URLs, addressing the critical need for early detection of web-based threats. We explore multiple approaches to URL analysis that can identify potential threats before users are exposed to malicious content.
Key Contributions
- Proactive Detection Framework: Novel approaches for early identification of malicious URLs
- Multi-layered Analysis: Comprehensive evaluation of URL characteristics and patterns
- Prevention Strategies: Techniques to block malicious URLs before user interaction
- Performance Evaluation: Comparative analysis of different detection methods
Technical Approach
Our methodology includes:
- Static URL Analysis: Examination of URL structure, domain characteristics, and lexical features
- Dynamic Content Analysis: Real-time evaluation of webpage content and behavior
- Machine Learning Integration: Automated classification using trained models
- Threat Intelligence: Integration with existing threat databases and reputation systems
Key Findings
- Pattern Recognition: Identification of common patterns in malicious URL structures
- Domain Analysis: Effective techniques for evaluating domain reputation and history
- Response Time: Optimization of detection speed for real-time protection
- False Positive Reduction: Methods to minimize incorrect classifications
Practical Applications
This research has been implemented in:
- Web filtering systems for enterprise security
- Browser-based protection mechanisms
- Email security solutions for URL scanning
- Mobile security applications
Industry Impact
The techniques developed in this study have been integrated into Bitdefender’s web protection modules, providing proactive URL filtering for millions of users worldwide.