Leveraging machine learning for the detection of structured interference in Global Navigation Satellite Systems

PeerJ Comput Sci. 2024 Nov 11:10:e2399. doi: 10.7717/peerj-cs.2399. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Radio frequency interference disrupts services offered by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Spoofing is the transmission of structured interference signals intended to deceive GNSS location and timing services. The identification of spoofing is vital, especially for safety-of-life aviation services, since the receiver is unaware of counterfeit signals. Although numerous spoofing detection and mitigation techniques have been developed, spoofing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, limiting most of these methods. This study explores the application of machine learning techniques for discerning authentic signals from counterfeit ones. The investigation particularly focuses on the secure code estimation and replay (SCER) spoofing attack, one of the most challenging type of spoofing attacks, ds8 scenario of the Texas Spoofing Test Battery (TEXBAT) dataset. The proposed framework uses tracking data from delay lock loop correlators as intrinsic features to train four distinct machine learning (ML) models: logistic regression, support vector machines (SVM) classifier, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and decision tree. The models are trained employing a random six-fold cross-validation methodology. It can be observed that both logistic regression and SVM can detect spoofing with a mean F1-score of 94%. However, logistic regression provides 165dB gain in terms of time efficiency as compared to SVM and 3 better than decision tree-based classifier. These performance metrics as well as receiver operating characteristic curve analysis make logistic regression the desirable approach for identifying SCER structured interference.

Keywords: GNSS security; GNSS spoofing; Global positioning system; Signal quality monitoring; Spoofing detection.

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.25744212.v1

Grants and funding

This research has received funding from King Saud University through Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2024R387), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The funder had a role in study design by structuring the approach the study took; data collection and analysis by determining which mathematical software and approaches could be used; decision to publish by providing permission to publish this study; and preparation of the manuscript by reviewing the content and providing feedback.