Lambda Architecture-Based Big Data System for Large-Scale Targeted Social Engineering Email Detection

Abstract

In this research, we delve deep into the realm of Targeted Social Engineering Email Detection, presenting a novel approach that harnesses the power of Lambda Architecture (LA). Our innovative methodology strategically segments the BERT model into two distinct components: the embedding generator and the classification segment. This segmentation not only optimizes resource consumption but also improves system efficiency, making it a pioneering step in the field. Our empirical findings, derived from a rigorous comparison between the fastText and BERT models, underscore the superior performance of the latter. Specifically, The BERT model has high precision rates for identifying malicious and benign emails, with impressive recall values and F1 scores. Its overall accuracy rate was 0.9988, with a Matthews Correlation Coefficient value of 0.9978. In comparison, the fastText model showed lower precision rates. Leveraging principles reminiscent of the Lambda architecture, our study delves into the performance dynamics of data processing models. The Separated-BERT (Sep-BERT) model emerges as a robust contender, adept at managing both real-time (stream) and large-scale (batch) data processing. Compared to the traditional BERT, Sep-BERT showcased superior efficiency, with reduced memory and CPU consumption across diverse email sizes and ingestion rates. This efficiency, combined with rapid inference times, positions Sep-BERT as a scalable and cost-effective solution, aligning well with the demands of Lambda- inspired architectures. This study marks a significant step forward in the fields of big data and cybersecurity. By introducing a novel methodology and demonstrating its efficacy in detecting targeted social engineering emails, we not only advance the state of knowledge in these domains but also lay a robust foundation for future research endeavors, emphasizing the transformative potential of integrating advanced big data frameworks with machine learning models.