## 1 Introduction
Although power communication networks offer advantages like low cost, they also pose new challenges to modern control systems [15]. Reference [16] introduced an advanced LFC strategy for power systems strategically designed to withstand specific categories of DoS attacks. The strategy employs a time-varying Lyapunov function methodology that adapts to the attack parameters' characteristics, effectively ensuring system stability. Reference [17] explores the application of adaptive dynamic programming-based auxiliary control to a particular class of discrete-time networked systems. Reference [18] explores resilient load frequency control of power systems, addressing random time delays and time-delay attacks. The proposed approach allows practical adjustments for real power systems, balancing accuracy and computational efficiency while considering communication delays. Reference [19] explores the delay-dependent stability of load frequency control under conditions of adjustable computation accuracy and complexity. The researchers propose a novel tuning scheme with adjustable conservatism and computational complexity. Reference [20] focuses on event-triggered load frequency control for power systems, specifically considering limited communication bandwidth. The approach aligns with control performance standards, ensuring stability and efficiency in the presence of communication constraints. The LFC scheme, based on the theory of switched systems in [21], effectively mitigates the DoS attacks' effects in open communication networks. It calculates the maximum duration and frequency of potential attacks the system can endure and devises a load frequency control strategy for mitigating denial-of-service attacks. This strategy utilizes a dual-loop communication channel and PI controller. Constructing an accurate mathematical model for power systems remains challenging due to their highly nonlinear and uncertain dynamic characteristics. Therefore, designing model-independent load frequency controllers is crucial. Model-free adaptive control, a data-driven algorithm, directly designs and analyzes controllers using input-output data from the controlled system. This approach enables parameter adaptation and structural adjustments for unknown nonlinear control systems and has found applications in various fields [22; 23]. Reference [24] introduced a model-free adaptive quasi-sliding mode control algorithm grounded in a data-driven approach. This algorithm effectively handles nonuniformly sampled nonlinear systems, mitigates the impact of external disturbances, and enhances the system's robustness and stability. Additionally, the LFC scheme was developed for power systems in [25], using an event-triggered and data-driven approach. However, to our knowledge, there have been limited discussions on MFAC methods for power systems based on switching systems. In this study, we investigate the model-freeadaptive LFC method according to switching systems for multi-area power systems under denial-of-service attacks. We conceptualize the multi-area power system under DoS attacks as a switching system composed of two subsystems. We design a switching model-free adaptive controller (SSMFAC) based on this system and use the Lyapunov theory to demonstrate system stability. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of this approach using a three-area interconnected power system. The main contributions of this paper are summarized as follows:  
1. In this paper, a data-driven load frequency control algorithm based on the switching method is proposed for a multi-area interconnected power system under DoS attack. A switching system model with two subsystems is established to represent the power system under a DoS attack with multi-area interconnection. On this basis, an MFAC algorithm for the switching system is designed. 2.