Robust Intrusion Detection Systems: Evaluating Classical and Ensemble Models with Chi-Square Feature Selection

As the reliance on digital networks grows, the need for robust security measures becomes paramount. It offers a thorough analysis of creating and assessing a Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) incorporating various machine learning algorithms. The selected algorithms consist of K Nearest Neighbour, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, and Logistic Regression. Moreover, widely recognised ensemble learning models like CatBoost, AdaBoost, Gradient Boost, Random Forest, and Extreme Gradient Boost. The core objective is to improve the efficiency of intrusion detection by evaluating various machine-learning models. Utilizes feature selection techniques based on chi-square to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of the selected features. The evaluation metrics, particularly Matthews’ Correlation Coefficient (MCC) and ROC Curves, are used in assessing the models’ efficacy. They offer valuable insights into the models’ capability to differentiate between normal and malicious network activities. This study aims to advance cybersecurity by comparing classical machine learning and ensemble models for network intrusion detection. Significantly, our results underscore XGBoost’s effectiveness with 0.996 accuracy and 0.993 MCC, in enhancing digital network security.