AndroAnalyzer: android malicious software detection based on deep learning

PeerJ Comput Sci. 2021 May 10:7:e533. doi: 10.7717/peerj-cs.533. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Background: Technological developments have a significant effect on the development of smart devices. The use of smart devices has become widespread due to their extensive capabilities. The Android operating system is preferred in smart devices due to its open-source structure. This is the reason for its being the target of malware. The advancements in Android malware hiding and detection avoidance methods have overridden traditional malware detection methods.

Methods: In this study, a model employing AndroAnalyzer that uses static analysis and deep learning system is proposed. Tests were carried out with an original dataset consisting of 7,622 applications. Additional tests were conducted with machine learning techniques to compare it with the deep learning method using the obtained feature vector.

Results: Accuracy of 98.16% was achieved by presenting a better performance compared to traditional machine learning techniques. Values of recall, precision, and F-measure were 98.78, 99.24 and 98.90, respectively. The results showed that deep learning models using trace-based feature vectors outperform current cutting-edge technology approaches.

Keywords: Deep learning; Malware detection; Mobile security; Permission; Static analysis.

Grants and funding

The author received no funding for this work.