4th International IEEE Conference on Broadband Communications, Networks, Systems

Research Article

Computer Worm Ecology in Encounter-based Networks (Invited Paper)

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/BROADNETS.2007.4550479,
        author={Sapon Tanachaiwiwat and Ahmed Helmy},
        title={Computer Worm Ecology in Encounter-based Networks (Invited Paper)},
        proceedings={4th International IEEE Conference on Broadband Communications, Networks, Systems},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={BROADNETS},
        year={2010},
        month={5},
        keywords={Ad hoc networks  Communication system security  Computer worms  Data security  Differential equations  Environmental factors  Information security  Internet  Mathematical model  Performance analysis},
        doi={10.1109/BROADNETS.2007.4550479}
    }
    
  • Sapon Tanachaiwiwat
    Ahmed Helmy
    Year: 2010
    Computer Worm Ecology in Encounter-based Networks (Invited Paper)
    BROADNETS
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/BROADNETS.2007.4550479
Sapon Tanachaiwiwat1,*, Ahmed Helmy2,*
  • 1: Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering University of Southern California, CA
  • 2: Computer and Information Science and Engineering University of Florida, FL
*Contact email: tanachai@usc.edu, helmy@ufl.edu

Abstract

Encounter-based network is a frequentlydisconnected wireless ad-hoc network requiring immediate neighbors to store and forward aggregated data for information disseminations. Using traditional approaches such as gateways or firewalls for deterring worm propagation in encounter-based networks is inappropriate. Because this type of network is highly dynamic and has no specific boundary, we need a fully distributed security response mechanism. We propose the worm interaction approach that relies upon automated beneficial worm generation aiming to alleviate problems of worm propagations in such networks. This work is motivated by the ‘War of the Worms’ of the Internet worms between competing worms such as NetSky, Bagle and MyDoom. To understand the dynamic of worm interactions and its performance, we mathematically model several classes of worms and interactions using ordinary differential equations and analyze their behaviors.