The Impact of the Network Topology on the Viral Prevalence: A Node-Based Approach

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 7; p. e0134507
• Main Authors: Yang, Lu-Xing, Draief, Moez, Yang, Xiaofan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 29-07-2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Anti-virus software; Computer Security; Computer Simulation; Computer viruses; Computers; Eigenvalues; Epidemics; Extinction; Infectious diseases; Information dissemination; Internet; Ordinary differential equations; Propagation; Topology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134507

This paper addresses the impact of the structure of the viral propagation network on the viral prevalence. For that purpose, a new epidemic model of computer virus, known as the node-based SLBS model, is proposed. Our analysis shows that the maximum eigenvalue of the underlying network is a key factor determining the viral prevalence. Specifically, the value range of the maximum eigenvalue is partitioned into three subintervals: viruses tend to extinction very quickly or approach extinction or persist depending on into which subinterval the maximum eigenvalue of the propagation network falls. Consequently, computer virus can be contained by adjusting the propagation network so that its maximum eigenvalue falls into the desired subinterval.