A mathematical model for virus infection in a system of interacting computers

Abstract

We introduce a simplified theoretical model to describe a virtual virus propagation process in a set of interacting computers. The propagation mechanisms considered here are those related to the reception of messages through internet as well as the ones concerning the simple exchange of files using recording devices as compact disks or the commonly used floppy disks. In spite of its inherent simplicity, this model provides a good idea of the infection process and trends. From the mathematical point of view, the nonlinear delay integral equation that we obtain here presents certain interesting features which are explored and enlightened in this paper.