CRSFL: Cluster-based Resource-aware Split Federated Learning for Continuous Authentication

In the ever-changing world of technology, continuous authentication and comprehensive access management are essential during user interactions with a device. Split Learning (SL) and Federated Learning (FL) have recently emerged as promising technologies for training a decentralized Machine Learning (ML) model. With the increasing use of smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, these distributed technologies enable users with limited resources to complete neural network model training with server assistance and collaboratively combine knowledge between different nodes. In this study, we propose combining these technologies to address the continuous authentication challenge while protecting user privacy and limiting device resource usage. However, the model's training is slowed due to SL sequential training and resource differences between IoT devices with different specifications. Therefore, we use a cluster-based approach to group devices with similar capabilities to mitigate the impact of slow devices while filtering out the devices incapable of training the model. In addition, we address the efficiency and robustness of training ML models by using SL and FL techniques to train the clients simultaneously while analyzing the overhead burden of the process. Following clustering, we select the best set of clients to participate in training through a Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimized on a carefully designed list of objectives. The performance of our proposed framework is compared to baseline methods, and the advantages are demonstrated using a real-life UMDAA-02-FD face detection dataset. The results show that CRSFL, our proposed approach, maintains high accuracy and reduces the overhead burden in continuous authentication scenarios while preserving user privacy.

MultiConfederated Learning: Inclusive Non-IID Data handling with Decentralized Federated Learning

Federated Learning (FL) has emerged as a prominent privacy-preserving technique for enabling use cases like confidential clinical machine learning. FL operates by aggregating models trained by remote devices which owns the data. Thus, FL enables the training of powerful global models using crowd-sourced data from a large number of learners, without compromising their privacy. However, the aggregating server is a single point of failure when generating the global model. Moreover, the performance of the model suffers when the data is not independent and identically distributed (non-IID data) on all remote devices. This leads to vastly different models being aggregated, which can reduce the performance by as much as 50% in certain scenarios. In this paper, we seek to address the aforementioned issues while retaining the benefits of FL. We propose MultiConfederated Learning: a decentralized FL framework which is designed to handle non-IID data. Unlike traditional FL, MultiConfederated Learning will maintain multiple models in parallel (instead of a single global model) to help with convergence when the data is non-IID. With the help of transfer learning, learners can converge to fewer models. In order to increase adaptability, learners are allowed to choose which updates to aggregate from their peers.

The Metaverse: Survey, Trends, Novel Pipeline Ecosystem & Future Directions

The Metaverse offers a second world beyond reality, where boundaries are non-existent, and possibilities are endless through engagement and immersive experiences using the virtual reality (VR) technology. Many disciplines can benefit from the advancement of the Metaverse when accurately developed, including the fields of technology, gaming, education, art, and culture. Nevertheless, developing the Metaverse environment to its full potential is an ambiguous task that needs proper guidance and directions. Existing surveys on the Metaverse focus only on a specific aspect and discipline of the Metaverse and lack a holistic view of the entire process. To this end, a more holistic, multi-disciplinary, in-depth, and academic and industry-oriented review is required to provide a thorough study of the Metaverse development pipeline. To address these issues, we present in this survey a novel multi-layered pipeline ecosystem composed of (1) the Metaverse computing, networking, communications and hardware infrastructure, (2) environment digitization, and (3) user interactions. For every layer, we discuss the components that detail the steps of its development. Also, for each of these components, we examine the impact of a set of enabling technologies and empowering domains (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Security & Privacy, Blockchain, Business, Ethics, and Social) on its advancement. In addition, we explain the importance of these technologies to support decentralization, interoperability, user experiences, interactions, and monetization. Our presented study highlights the existing challenges for each component, followed by research directions and potential solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this survey is the most comprehensive and allows users, scholars, and entrepreneurs to get an in-depth understanding of the Metaverse ecosystem to find their opportunities and potentials for contribution.

Warmup and Transfer Knowledge-Based Federated Learning Approach for IoT Continuous Authentication

Continuous behavioural authentication methods add a unique layer of security by allowing individuals to verify their unique identity when accessing a device. Maintaining session authenticity is now feasible by monitoring users' behaviour while interacting with a mobile or Internet of Things (IoT) device, making credential theft and session hijacking ineffective. Such a technique is made possible by integrating the power of artificial intelligence and Machine Learning (ML). Most of the literature focuses on training machine learning for the user by transmitting their data to an external server, subject to private user data exposure to threats. In this paper, we propose a novel Federated Learning (FL) approach that protects the anonymity of user data and maintains the security of his data. We present a warmup approach that provides a significant accuracy increase. In addition, we leverage the transfer learning technique based on feature extraction to boost the models' performance. Our extensive experiments based on four datasets: MNIST, FEMNIST, CIFAR-10 and UMDAA-02-FD, show a significant increase in user authentication accuracy while maintaining user privacy and data security.