Techniques for Cyber Attack Attribution
Abstract
This paper summarizes various techniques to perform attribution of computer attackers who are exploiting data networks. Attribution can be defined as determining the identity or location of an attacker or an attacker's intermediary. In the public literature "traceback" or "source tracking" are often used as terms instead of "attribution." This paper is intended for use by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as it considers if it should improve its attribution capability, and if so, how to do so. However, since the focus of this paper is on technology, it may also be of use to many others such as law enforcement personnel. This is a technical report, and assumes that the reader understands the basics of network technology, especially the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols.
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The U.S. Department of Defense has created techniques for tracing the origins of a cyber attack through intermediaries to the source.
“The Department of Defense of the U.S. has created techniques for tracing the origins of a cyber attack through intermediaries to the source.”
From Impact, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigation Strategies for Cyber-Secure Critical Infrastructure. (2023) · cites this paper as [79]
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References 55 · Cited by 119
- Authors
- Wheeler, D. A., & Larsen, G. N.
- ORCID
- Wheeler, David A.
- Publisher
- Defense Technical Information Center
- Published
- 2003-10-01
- OpenAlex
- W1594990268
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- Type
- report
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Network Security and Intrusion Detection
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Digital and Cyber Forensics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Internet Traffic Analysis and Secure E-voting
- Keywords
- attribution of cyberattacks, traceback, source tracking, attacker identification, network forensics, TCP/IP, law enforcement
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