The document summarizes research conducted using the NetLogo modeling software to simulate the spread of a virus on a computer network. The researchers tested different variables such as virus check frequency, ability to gain resistance to the virus, and network size. Increasing virus checks from once to five times per week lowered susceptibility by 25% and increased resistance by 30%. Updating virus definition software from a 20% to 95% detection rate lowered susceptibility to 0% and increased resistance to 100%. Network size had no effect on the results. The conclusions are that regular virus scans and updated protection software can greatly improve network security, while network size is irrelevant.

1. Virus Spread on a Network
Stacey Whitfield, Jean-Marie Nshimiyimana, Viktor Kuvila, Felesia Stukes
swhitfi2@email.cpcc.edu, jnshimi0@email.cpcc.edu, vnk794c6@email.cpcc.edu, felesia.stukes@cpcc.edu
NetLogo modeling software Excel worksheet of collected data
Impact
• Boosting virus-check-frequency from
1 to 5 time per week (graph below)
• Lowered susceptibility to virus by
approximately 25 %
• Increased resistance to virus by
approximately 30 %
• Increasing gain-resistance-chance
to simulate updated virus definition
software from 20% to 95%
• Lowered susceptibility to 0 %
• Increased resistance to 100 %
•Increasing or decreasing network
size has shown no effect on results.
Future Work
NetLogo has many opportunities for
code modification. Altering code to
model a mutating virus is one of many
future research concepts in this area
of study.
Modified NetLogo model to expand research
Conclusions
• Through regular virus scans on each
machine, the network’s security may
greatly improve.
• Updated virus protection software is
crucial for early detection on any
network.
• Network size is irrelevant in this
matter.
Initiative
• Researching known virus behavior
we have gained insight to data
already discovered by scientists.
• Using collected information our team
looked for ways to improve security
measures.
• Running NetLogo model, data
was gathered into Excel.
• Test data was then used to graph
a scatter plot of results.
Introduction
We believe through our model
research that we can gain insight to
improvement of security on networks.
Using NetLogo modeling software, a
virus is modeled and traced through a
virtual network.
This network experiment altered three
variables: virus-check-frequency,
gain-resistance-chance and network-
size. With respect to the scientific
method, our hypothesis was
confirmed through multiple trial runs
of this model.
Graph of resultant changes