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[Birth and death process of computer viruses].
Katsunori Segawa1, Tatsuya Nakano, Kotoko Nakata
1fumi@nihs.go.jp
Summary
Computer virus numbers show Markov process patterns, similar to biological viruses. Daily website access data, however, resembles random white noise, lacking such temporal correlations.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- Network Security
- Data Analysis
Context:
- Examining daily variations in computer virus infections and website traffic.
- Comparing temporal patterns in digital threats with biological systems.
Purpose:
- To analyze the statistical properties of computer virus propagation.
- To contrast the dynamics of computer viruses with website access patterns.
Summary:
- Computer virus counts exhibit temporal correlations characteristic of a Markov process, mirroring biological virus dynamics via a birth-and-death model.
- Website access numbers from a national institute in Japan were identified as white noise, lacking significant temporal correlations.
- Power spectral density analysis revealed distinct statistical behaviors between computer virus counts and website access data.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the statistical nature of computer virus spread.
- Highlights differences in dynamic processes between digital and biological systems.
- Suggests potential for modeling cyber threats using established stochastic processes.
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