Assessing Internet Viruses Like Human Epidemics

underpar writes "This ComputerWorld.com article discusses the UCSD's $6.2 million attempt to study Internet viruses in a manner similar to the study of human epidemics. Stefan Savage, a computer science professor, is quoted in the article as saying, 'We'll be focused on what vectors are used, just like in assessing West Nile, to spread computer viruses and ultimately try to develop defenses to prevent them from spreading.'"

Comments

Primary Vector Found

[RoC MasterMind]

It's Windows.

It sounds good at first, but isn't too worthwhile

[Anonymous Coward]

Computer viruses certainly do spread like human epidemics. West Nile isn't really a good choice for this study, however, since it's difficult to spread and rather difficult to contract. It might model a virus that isn't widely distributed, but it wouldn't accurately model something like Beagle, MyDoom, Blaster, or something like that. Also, generally diseases only have one or two ways of spreading in humans, whereas many of the modern worms can spread through a multitude of security holes and other methods. It might be useful to only focus on the widest spreading of epidemics in humans, such as homosexuality, AIDS, colds, or influenza. It might also be worth studying the most diseased populations, such as Jews. It's an interesting theory, but it's hard to really draw a connection between the two, except in name. This money could probably be spent in better ways, such as tracking down the actual virus writers or going toward promoting better security.