Date of Award

2-12-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Computer Engineering

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Barry E. Mullins, PhD

Abstract

This thesis addresses the problem of identifying and tracking digital information that is shared using peer-to-peer file transfer and Voice over IP (VoIP) protocols. The goal of the research is to develop a system for detecting and tracking the illicit dissemination of sensitive government information using file sharing applications within a target network, and tracking terrorist cells or criminal organizations that are covertly communicating using VoIP applications. A digital forensic tool is developed using an FPGA-based embedded software application. The tool is designed to process file transfers using the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol and VoIP phone calls made using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The tool searches a network for selected peer-to-peer control messages using payload analysis and compares the unique identifier of the file being shared or phone number being used against a list of known contraband files or phone numbers. If the identifier is found on the list, the control packet is added to a log file for later forensic analysis. Results show that the FPGA tool processes peer-to-peer packets of interest 92% faster than a software-only configuration and is 99.0% accurate at capturing and processing BitTorrent Handshake messages under a network traffic load of at least 89.6 Mbps. When SIP is added to the system, the probability of intercept for BitTorrent Handshake messages remains at 99.0% and the probability of intercept for SIP control packets is 97.6% under a network traffic load of at least 89.6 Mbps, demonstrating that the tool can be expanded to process additional peer-to-peer protocols with minimal impact on overall performance.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GCE-ENG-09-10

DTIC Accession Number

ADA499416

Download

Share

COinS