System and method for inferring traffic legitimacy through selective impairment

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first computing terminal for initiating a stress test on an application over a data-sharing network, wherein the application is executed by a second computing terminal, the stress test including a predetermined number of stress events, wherein the stress events are based on a network impairment, the first computing terminal identifying a response by the application to each stress event, the first computing terminal classifying the application as a function of the response into one of a first classification and a second classification, the first classification indicative of a normal application and the second classification indicative of an undesired application,
• wherein, when the application is in the second classification, the first computing terminal executes a network response procedure, wherein the network response procedure comprises a deprioritization of the application.