Real-Time Detection of Hybrid and Stealthy Cyber-Attacks in Smart Grid

TL;DR

This paper introduces a real-time detection algorithm for hybrid and stealthy cyber-attacks in smart grids, capable of estimating attack parameters and recovering system states, with countermeasures against sophisticated attack strategies.

Contribution

It presents a robust online detection method for combined FDI and jamming attacks, including countermeasures for stealthy attack strategies, enhancing smart grid cybersecurity.

Findings

Quick and reliable detection of hybrid attacks

Effective online estimation of attack parameters

Countermeasures against stealthy attack designs

Abstract

For a safe and reliable operation of the smart grid, timely detection of cyber-attacks is of critical importance. Moreover, considering smarter and more capable attackers, robust detection mechanisms are needed against a diverse range of cyber-attacks. With these purposes, we propose a robust online detection algorithm for (possibly combined) false data injection (FDI) and jamming attacks, that also provides online estimates of the unknown and time-varying attack parameters and recovered state estimates. Further, considering smarter attackers that are capable of designing stealthy attacks to prevent the detection or to increase the detection delay of the proposed algorithm, we propose additional countermeasures. Numerical studies illustrate the quick and reliable response of the proposed detection mechanisms against hybrid and stealthy cyber-attacks.