Internet of Things security with machine learning techniques:a systematic literature review

Abstract. The Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are beneficial for both private and businesses. The growth of the technology and its rapid introduction to target fast-growing markets faces security challenges. Machine learning techniques have been recently used in research studies as a solution in securing IoT devices. These machine learning techniques have been implemented successfully in other fields. The objective of this thesis is to identify and analyze existing scientific literature published recently regarding the use of machine learning techniques in securing IoT devices. In this thesis, a systematic literature review was conducted to explore the previous research on the use of machine learning in IoT security. The review was conducted by following a procedure developed in the review protocol. The data for the study was collected from three databases i.e. IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Web of Science. From a total of 855 identified papers, 20 relevant primary studies were selected to answer the research question. The study identified 7 machine learning techniques used in IoT security, additionally, several attack models were identified and classified into 5 categories. The results show that the use of machine learning techniques in IoT security is a promising solution to the challenges facing security. Supervised machine learning techniques have better performance in comparison to unsupervised and reinforced learning. The findings also identified that data types and the learning method affects the performance of machine learning techniques. Furthermore, the results show that machine learning approach is mostly used in securing the network

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century