Netinfo Security ›› 2025, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (9): 1418-1438.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-1122.2025.09.010

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Overview of Backdoor Attacks and Defenses in Personalized Federated Learning

CHEN Xianyi1,2,3,4, WANG Xuebo2,3, CUI Qi1,2,3, FU Zhangjie1,2,3, WANG Qianqian2,3, ZENG Yifu5,6()   

  1. 1. Engineering Research Center of Digital Forensics Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
    2. School of Computer Science, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
    3. School of Cyberspace Security, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
    4. Jiangsu Yuchi Blockchain Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210000, China
    5. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362100, China
    6. The School of Cyber Science and Technology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • Received:2025-06-13 Online:2025-09-10 Published:2025-09-18

Abstract:

As an emerging paradigm in federated learning, personalized federated learning (PFL) aims to furnish each client with personalized models specifically tailored to their unique data distributions, in order to effectively mitigate the adverse impacts of data heterogeneity. However, the distributed nature and personalization requirements of PFL render it susceptible to backdoor attack threats. Furthermore, model drift arising from data heterogeneity, intertwined with the personalization objective, significantly exacerbates the stealthiness of attacks and the difficulty of defense. Therefore, in-depth research into backdoor attack mechanisms and defense strategies within the PFL environment is crucial. Firstly, the research background and core concepts of PFL and backdoor attacks were introduced. Then, PFL backdoor attack strategies encompassing black-box and white-box scenarios, along with defense mechanisms operating at various stages, were systematically reviewed and critically analyzed, while also dissecting their respective applicability and limitations. Finally, key challenges and future research directions faced by PFL backdoor attacks and defenses were discussed.

Key words: personalized federated learning, backdoor attack, backdoor defense

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