Eradicating Computer Viruses on Networks

TL;DR

This paper models computer virus spread using epidemic theory and proposes a cost-effective 'network monitors' policy that installs antivirus on select nodes to prevent propagation effectively.

Contribution

Introduces a novel 'network monitors' strategy that reduces costs while maintaining network security against viruses.

Findings

Network monitors effectively prevent virus spread.

The policy reduces installation and update costs.

Simulations confirm the efficiency of the approach.

Abstract

Spread of computer viruses can be modeled as the SIS (susceptible-infected-susceptible) epidemic propagation. We show that in order to ensure the random immunization or the targeted immunization effectively prevent computer viruses propagation on homogeneous networks, we should install antivirus programs in every computer node and frequently update those programs. This may produce large work and cost to install and update antivirus programs. Then we propose a new policy called "network monitors" to tackle this problem. In this policy, we only install and update antivirus programs for small number of computer nodes, namely the "network monitors". Further, the "network monitors" can monitor their neighboring nodes' behavior. This mechanism incur relative small cost to install and update antivirus programs.We also indicate that the policy of the "network monitors" is efficient to protect the network's safety. Numerical simulations confirm our analysis.