Optimizing feature selection with random reversal and adaptive Gaussian based Dung beetle optimizer for intrusion detection system in IoT

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging, promising technology developed with the objective of establishing global connectivity among devices. IoT is highly susceptible to malicious attacks, owing to its resource-constrained architecture, insecure wireless communication, diverse device ecosystems, and the vast volume of sensor data transmitted over networks. An effective Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is essential to address these security concerns. However, challenges such as irrelevant features and poor class separability complicate its development. This research proposes a novel IDS by introducing an Improved Random Reversal Learning (IRRL) and Dimensional Adaptive Gaussian Variation (DAGV)-based Dung Beetle Optimizer (RGDBO) for optimal feature selection, enhancing exploration, and avoiding premature convergence. For classification, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) integrated with CosFace and ArcFace loss functions, termed CACNN, is employed to enhance intrusion classification through more efficient discrimination among classes. The combined RGDBO-CACNN framework is evaluated on three benchmark datasets: UNSW-NB15, NSL-KDD, and CICIDS-2017, using accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-score as performance metrics. A comparative analysis of existing methods, including GA-FR-CNN, GTO-BSA, and BMRF-RF, demonstrates the superiority of the proposed model, with RGDBO-CACNN achieving an accuracy of 99.999% on the UNSW-NB15 dataset.