Encrypted and mobile-app traffic classification
Deep learning classifiers that recognize mobile apps and services from encrypted traffic, using multimodal and multitask architectures such as MIMETIC and DISTILLER.
Tools & projects
People
Antonio PescapèFull Professor · Principal Investigator
Giuseppe AcetoAssociate Professor
Domenico CiuonzoAssociate Professor
Antonio MontieriTenure-Track Professor
Valerio PersicoAssociate Professor
Alfredo NascitaAssistant Professor (RTDA)
Idio GuarinoAssistant Professor (Non-Tenure Track) - Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna
Alberto DainottiPhD - Now at Georgia Tech
Walter de DonatoPhD - Now at NM2 Srl
Francesco CerasuoloPostdoc
Davide di MondaPostdoc
Vincenzo SpadariPhD Student
Publications
- Journal I. Guarino, G. Bovenzi, A. Nascita, D. Ciuonzo, D. Carra, A. Pescapè, “A multimodal and perturbation-aware learning approach for robust traffic classification”, Computer Networks, 2026.
- Journal D. Di Monda, G. Bovenzi, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Analyzing the impact of shifts in encrypted mobile-app traffic on multimodal few-shot learning”, Computer Networks, 2025.
- Conference A. Nascita, I. Guarino, V. Spadari, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, “From Entanglement to Explanation: Bridging Quantum ML and XAI for Network Traffic Classification”, 2025 IEEE Virtual Conference on Communications (VCC), 2025.
- Journal R. Carillo, F. Cerasuolo, G. Bovenzi, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, “Explainable federated class incremental learning for Encrypted Network Traffic classification”, Computer Networks, 2025.
- Conference D. Di Monda, A. Nascita, R. Carillo, A. Pescapè, “Analyzing the Impact of Encryption on Traffic Classification through Explainable AI.”, Networking, 2025.
- Conference F. Cerasuolo, G. Bovenzi, V. Spadari, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, “Explainable Few-Shot Class Incremental Learning for Mobile Network Traffic Classification”, GLOBECOM 2024 - 2024 IEEE Global Communications Conference, 2024.
- Conference V. Spadari, I. Guarino, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, “A Comparison Between Classical and Quantum Machine Learning for Mobile App Traffic Classification”, 2024 IEEE/ACM Symposium on Edge Computing (SEC), 2024.
- Conference F. Cerasuolo, I. Guarino, V. Spadari, G. Aceto, A. Pescapè, “XAI for Interpretable Multimodal Architectures with Contextual Input in Mobile Network Traffic Classification”, 2024 IFIP Networking Conference (IFIP Networking), 2024.
- Journal F. Cerasuolo, A. Nascita, G. Bovenzi, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, D. Rossi, “MEMENTO: A novel approach for class incremental learning of encrypted traffic”, Computer Networks, 2024.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “AI-Powered Internet Traffic Classification: Past, Present, and Future”, IEEE Communications Magazine, 2023. PDF
- Journal A. Nascita, A. Montieri, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Improving Performance, Reliability, and Feasibility in Multimodal Multitask Traffic Classification with XAI”, IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2023. PDF
- Conference A. Nascita, F. Cerasuolo, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Explainable Mobile Traffic Classification: the Case of Incremental Learning”, Proceedings of the 2023 on Explainable and Safety Bounded, Fidelitous, Machine Learning for Networking, 2023. PDF
- Conference G. Bovenzi, D. Di Monda, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Meta Mimetic: Few-Shot Classification of Mobile-App Encrypted Traffic via Multimodal Meta-Learning”, 2023 35th International Teletraffic Congress (ITC-35), 2023.
- Conference I. Guarino, C. Wang, A. Finamore, A. Pescapè, D. Rossi, “Many or Few Samples?: Comparing Transfer, Contrastive and Meta-Learning in Encrypted Traffic Classification”, 2023 7th Network Traffic Measurement and Analysis Conference (TMA), 2023.
- Journal G. Bovenzi, A. Nascita, L. Yang, A. Finamore, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, D. Rossi, “Benchmarking Class Incremental Learning in Deep Learning Traffic Classification”, IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2023.
- Conference G. Bovenzi, D. Di Monda, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Few Shot Learning Approaches for Classifying Rare Mobile-App Encrypted Traffic Samples”, IEEE INFOCOM 2023 - IEEE Conference on Computer Communications Workshops (INFOCOM WKSHPS), 2023.
- Journal I. Guarino, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Contextual counters and multimodal Deep Learning for activity-level traffic classification of mobile communication apps during COVID-19 pandemic”, Computer Networks, 2022.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “DISTILLER: Encrypted traffic classification via multimodal multitask deep learning”, Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 2021.
- Conference I. Guarino, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Classification of Communication and Collaboration Apps via Advanced Deep-Learning Approaches”, 2021 IEEE 26th International Workshop on Computer Aided Modeling and Design of Communication Links and Networks (CAMAD), 2021.
- Journal A. Nascita, A. Montieri, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “XAI Meets Mobile Traffic Classification: Understanding and Improving Multimodal Deep Learning Architectures”, IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2021.
- Conference A. Nascita, A. Montieri, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Unveiling MIMETIC: Interpreting Deep Learning Traffic Classifiers via XAI Techniques”, 2021 IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience (CSR), 2021.
- Preprint G. Bovenzi, L. Yang, A. Finamore, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Pescapè, D. Rossi, “A First Look at Class Incremental Learning in Deep Learning Mobile Traffic Classification”, arXiv (Cornell University), 2021. PDF
- Conference G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Nascita, A. Pescapè, “Encrypted Multitask Traffic Classification via Multimodal Deep Learning”, ICC 2021 - IEEE International Conference on Communications, 2021.
- Journal G. Bovenzi, G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “A Big Data-Enabled Hierarchical Framework for Traffic Classification”, IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, 2020.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “Toward effective mobile encrypted traffic classification through deep learning”, Neurocomputing, 2020.
- Other A. Montieri, “Methodologies for Mobile and Encrypted Traffic Classification via Machine Learning Approaches.”, University of Naples Federico II, Italy, 2020.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “MIMETIC: Mobile encrypted traffic classification using multimodal deep learning”, Computer Networks, 2019.
- Conference G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “MIRAGE: Mobile-app Traffic Capture and Ground-truth Creation”, 2019 4th International Conference on Computing, Communications and Security (ICCCS), 2019.
- Conference G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “Know your Big Data Trade-offs when Classifying Encrypted Mobile Traffic with Deep Learning”, 2019 Network Traffic Measurement and Analysis Conference (TMA), 2019.
- Journal A. Montieri, D. Ciuonzo, G. Bovenzi, V. Persico, A. Pescapè, “A Dive into the Dark Web: Hierarchical Traffic Classification of Anonymity Tools”, IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, 2019.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “Mobile Encrypted Traffic Classification Using Deep Learning: Experimental Evaluation, Lessons Learned, and Challenges”, IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management, 2019.
- Conference H. Doroud, G. Aceto, W. de Donato, E. A. Jarchlo, A. Marín, C. D. Guerrero, A. Pescapè, “Speeding-Up DPI Traffic Classification with Chaining”, 2018 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), 2018.
- Conference G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “Mobile Encrypted Traffic Classification Using Deep Learning”, 2018 Network Traffic Measurement and Analysis Conference (TMA), 2018.
- Journal A. Montieri, D. Ciuonzo, G. Aceto, A. Pescapè, “Anonymity Services Tor, I2P, JonDonym: Classifying in the Dark (Web)”, IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing, 2018.
- Conference G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “Traffic Classification of Mobile Apps through Multi-Classification”, GLOBECOM 2017 - 2017 IEEE Global Communications Conference, 2017.
- Journal G. Aceto, D. Ciuonzo, A. Montieri, A. Pescapè, “Multi-classification approaches for classifying mobile app traffic”, Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 2017.
- Conference A. Montieri, D. Ciuonzo, G. Aceto, A. Pescapè, “Anonymity Services Tor, I2P, JonDonym: Classifying in the Dark”, International Test Conference, 2017.
- Journal W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, A. Dainotti, “Traffic identification engine: an open platform for traffic classification”, IEEE Network, 2014. PDF
- Journal G. Aceto, A. Dainotti, W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, “TIE: Traffic Identification Engine”, PIK - Praxis der Informationsverarbeitung und Kommunikation, 2013.
- Conference S. Valenti, D. Rossi, A. Dainotti, A. Pescapè, A. Finamore, M. Mellia, “Reviewing Traffic Classification”, Lecture notes in computer science, 2013.
- Conference M. Grajzer, M. Koziuk, P. Szczechowiak, A. Pescapè, “A Multi-Classification Approach for the Detection and Identification of eHealth Applications”, 2012 21st International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks (ICCCN), 2012. PDF
- Journal A. Dainotti, A. Pescapè, K. claffy, “Issues and future directions in traffic classification”, IEEE Network, 2012. PDF
- Conference A. Dainotti, A. Pescapè, H.-C. Kim, “Traffic Classification through Joint Distributions of Packet-Level Statistics”, 2011 IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference - GLOBECOM 2011, 2011.
- Conference A. Dainotti, A. Pescapè, C. Sansone, A. Quintavalle, “Using a Behaviour Knowledge Space Approach for Detecting Unknown IP Traffic Flows”, Lecture notes in computer science, 2011. PDF
- Conference A. Dainotti, A. Pescapè, C. Sansone, “Early Classification of Network Traffic through Multi-classification”, Lecture notes in computer science, 2011. PDF
- Conference A. Dainotti, F. Gargiulo, L. I. Kuncheva, A. Pescapè, C. Sansone, “Identification of Traffic Flows Hiding behind TCP Port 80”, 2010 IEEE International Conference on Communications, 2010. PDF
- Conference G. Aceto, A. Dainotti, W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, “PortLoad: Taking the Best of Two Worlds in Traffic Classification”, 2010 INFOCOM IEEE Conference on Computer Communications Workshops, 2010. PDF
- Other A. Pescapè, A. Dainotti, W. De Donato, G. Aceto, “Metodo e sistema per la classificazione di flussi di traffico in una rete di comunicazione dati che utilizza firme basate sul contenuto del traffico”, ITA, 2010.
- Conference V. Carela-Español, P. Barlet‐Ros, M. Solé-Simó, A. Dainotti, W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, “K-Dimensional Trees for Continuous Traffic Classification”, Lecture notes in computer science, 2010. PDF
- Conference A. Dainotti, W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, “TIE: A Community-Oriented Traffic Classification Platform”, Lecture notes in computer science, 2009.
- Book chapter A. Pescapè, C. Sansone, “RECIPE: Robust and Efficient traffic Classification in IP nEtworks”, Fridericiana Editrice Universitaria, 2009.
- Journal M. Mellia, A. Pescapè, L. Salgarelli, “Traffic classification and its applications to modern networks”, Computer Networks, 2008.
- Other A. Dainotti, G. Ventre, L. P. Cordella, A. Pescapè, K. C. Claffy, “Understanding Internet Traffic: Can We Classify the Unknown?”, 2008.
- Conference A. Dainotti, W. de Donato, A. Pescapè, P. S. Rossi, “Classification of Network Traffic via Packet-Level Hidden Markov Models”, IEEE GLOBECOM 2008 - 2008 IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference, 2008.