A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Techniques for URL Phishing Detection
Adel Albishri, Mohamed M. Dessouky
Abstract
The growing threat of URL phishing attacks raises the need for advanced detection systems to protect digital environments. This paper explores the effectiveness of various machine learning models in classifying URLs as phishing or benign, focusing on the random forest model. Using ensemble learning, the random forest demonstrated superior accuracy and reliability compared to traditional methods, achieving consistent performance with accuracy rates between 99.93% and 99.98%. The model's performance was evaluated daily over eight days, highlighting its robustness in handling real-world scenarios. This study utilized GridSearchCV to optimize model hyperparameters, enhancing model robustness and minimizing overfitting. Future research directions include advanced feature engineering, deep learning techniques, and multimodal data integration to further improve phishing detection systems.