RTX releases open-source toolkit for covert communication network validation

A software toolkit originally developed for DARPA to test covert communication networks, known as Maude-HCS, has been released as open source. This tool allows organizations to experiment with new kinds of secure and anonymous communication methods, according to The Register.

RTX's BBN research arm released Maude-HCS under the Apache 2.0 license on GitHub. Built using the Maude programming language, it is designed to validate hidden communication systems (HCS), which conceal network traffic within larger data flows. Techniques include protocol tunneling, mimicry, obfuscation, and steganography. The toolkit helps designers balance performance with the risk of detection, a critical factor for users in sensitive environments. RTX claims Maude-HCS can predict latency, data rate, and detection duration with a 1% to 9% error rate, reducing analysis time from weeks to hours.

The open-source release of Maude-HCS extends beyond national security, offering universities and industry partners a platform to test hidden communication designs outside classified settings.

Source: The Register