Model for network behaviour under viral attack

Abstract

Computer viruses, worms and Trojan horses pose the most severe intrusion threat against an automated environment, especially if this environment is distributed and the ability to enforce physical access control is very limited. These structures are also collectively referred to as malicious software. In this paper, a model for viral attacks against computer networks is being developed. The soundness of the model is being tested via simulation experiments. Interesting results that can be practically useful to network administrators are being derived.