Covert channel design and detection techniques : a survey

Secret communication via network has always been an area of interest for attackers. Secrete communication provide a way to discovers and leak information such that system security policies are violated. Covert channel concept for passing data secretly over a communication network existed from many years. Covert channel designer are continuously improving design techniques which create difficult to detect such channels. These channels are different from encryption and steganography. Use of covert attack may be a serious security threat as they can be used for malicious activities. Covert channels exist in most of communication system and allow individual to communicate secretly. It has not only attracted the trusted parties to communicate with each other secretly but has also attracted the hackers/attackers. Existing literature suggests that it is difficult to detect and prevent covert channel communication using traditional accuracy systems. This paper presents detailed survey of existing covert channel design, detection and prevention techniques. The author also presents the classification and comparison of the covert channel design and detection techniques.