Detecting Phishing URLs with CNN - Decision Tree Method

Abstract

This research focuses on assessing the efficacy of a method that integrates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Decision Trees for the detection of phishing URLs. Phishing represents a major cyber threat, where cybercriminals attempt to deceive individuals into disclosing sensitive information via fraudulent websites. As the frequency of phishing attacks continues to rise, there is a pressing need for effective detection and prevention strategies. In this investigation, a dataset comprising both phishing and legitimate URLs was utilized to train a CNN-Decision Tree model. The training phase includes feature extraction from URLs using CNN, which excels at identifying intricate patterns within the data, followed by classification through Decision Trees, recognized for their capacity to deliver straightforward and comprehensible interpretations of classification outcomes. The model's performance was evaluated across nine distinct scenarios to assess its effectiveness under varying conditions. The results indicated that the hybrid CNN-Decision Tree model achieved a precision rate of 94%, a recall of 90%, and an F1-Score of 92%, with an overall accuracy of 93%. These findings suggest that the model is not only proficient in identifying phishing URLs but also maintains a commendable balance between precision and recall. This research highlights that the synergy of CNN and Decision Trees can serve as a potent solution for phishing URL detection, significantly contributing to the advancement of enhanced cybersecurity systems.