Side-channel attacks that use machine learning (ML) for signal analysis have
become prominent threats to computer security, as ML models easily find
patterns in signals. To address this problem, this paper explores using
Adversarial Machine Learning (AML) methods as a defense at the computer
architecture layer to obfuscate side channels. We call this approach Defensive
ML, and the generator to obfuscate signals, defender. Defensive ML is a
workflow to design, implement, train, and deploy defenders for different
environments. First, we design a defender architecture given the physical
characteristics and hardware constraints of the side-channel. Next, we use our
DefenderGAN structure to train the defender. Finally, we apply defensive ML to
thwart two side-channel attacks: one based on memory contention and the other
on application power. The former uses a hardware defender with ns-level
response time that attains a high level of security with half the performance
impact of a traditional scheme; the latter uses a software defender with
ms-level response time that provides better security than a traditional scheme
with only 70% of its power overhead.

该论文研究使用 Adversarial Machine Learning 方法来防御利用机器学习进行信号分析的侧信道攻击，提出了一种名为 Defensive ML 的工作流程，其中包括设计、实现、训练和部署不同环境下的 Defender 来实现信号混淆。作者最终测试了两种基于内存竞争和应用功耗的侧信道攻击，结果显示该方法在保证高水平安全性的同时只有传统方案一半的性能开销（硬件实现）或只有 70％的功耗开销（软件实现）