Simulating virus propagation in a scale free network model

In765 – Project Outline

By Geir-Arild Hellesvik

Background

This project is done as part of the course In765 Knowledge Networks at the University College of Molde. The idea of this project has been rolling around in the back of my head for quite some time but somehow the time to start it and do it has not appeared on its own. Therefore I want to do it as part of this course and maybe the effort will produce results I can use for further research in this, and other, areas.

Goal

There are several smaller goals in this project:

1. To write a computer program that generates a network with scale free properties.
2. To simulate how a virus propagates through this network.
3. To simulate how the introduction of countermeasures to this virus affects it’s spreading.

The overall goal is to reproduce, in a model, how a real world computer virus propagates over the internet. The model can be used for continued efforts in virus and network modelling.

Method

The implementation of the model will be done in C++ or Java so that it can be compiled for multiple operating systems. Multiple tests will be run and the results compared to other similar projects and data from real world virus epidemics on the internet. Real world data can probably be obtained from online resources like antivirus software companies.