Epidemiological Models Applied to Viruses in Computer Networks

Abstract

To investigate the use of classical epidemiological models for studying computer virus propagation we described analogies between computer and population disease propagation using SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Removed) epidemiological models. By modifying these models with the introduction of anti-viral individuals we analyzed the stability of the disease free equilibrium points. Consequently, the basal virus reproduction rate gives some theoretical hints about how to avoid infections in a computer network. Numerical simulations show the dynamics of the process for several parameter values giving the number of infected machines as a function of time.