# The spreading of computer viruses on time-varying networks

## TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical framework for understanding how computer viruses spread on time-varying social networks, considering user susceptibility and network dynamics, revealing increased system fragility due to temporal interactions.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel model that incorporates temporal network properties and user heterogeneity, providing analytical insights into virus invasion thresholds.

## Key findings

- Temporal coupling of user categories increases system fragility.
- Network dynamics significantly influence virus spreading.
- Analytical invasion thresholds derived for realistic scenarios.

## Abstract

Social networks are the prime channel for the spreading of computer viruses. Yet the study of their propagation neglects the temporal nature of social interactions and the heterogeneity of users' susceptibility. Here, we introduce a theoretical framework that captures both properties. We study two realistic types of viruses propagating on temporal networks featuring Q categories of susceptibility and derive analytically the invasion threshold. We found that the temporal coupling of categories might increase the fragility of the system to cyber threats. Our results show that networks' dynamics and their interplay with users features are crucial for the spreading of computer viruses.