Low-Cost Malware Detection with Artificial Intelligence on Single Board Computers

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has significantly expanded the threat landscape for malicious software (malware), rendering traditional signature-based detection methods increasingly ineffective in coping with the volume and evolving nature of modern threats. In response, researchers are utilising artificial intelligence (AI) for a more dynamic and robust malware detection solution. An innovative approach utilising AI is focusing on image classification techniques to detect malware on resource-constrained Single-Board Computers (SBCs) such as the Raspberry Pi. In this method the conversion of malware binaries into 2D images is examined, which can be analysed by deep learning models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to classify them as benign or malicious. The results show that the image-based approach demonstrates high efficacy, with many studies reporting detection accuracy rates exceeding 98%. That said, there is a significant challenge in deploying these demanding models on devices with limited processing power and memory, in particular those involving of both calculation and time complexity. Overcoming this issue requires critical model optimisation strategies. Successful approaches include the use of a lightweight CNN architecture and federated learning, which may be used to preserve privacy while training models with decentralised data are processed. This hybrid workflow in which models are trained on powerful servers before the learnt algorithms are deployed on SBCs is an emerging field attacting significant interest in the field of cybersecurity. This paper synthesises the current state of the art, performance compromises, and optimisation techniques contributing to the understanding of how AI and image representation can enable effective low-cost malware detection on resource-constrained systems.