Seeking best-balanced patch-injecting strategies through optimal control approach

Abstract

To restrain escalating computer viruses, new virus patches must be constantly injected into networks. In this scenario, the patch-developing cost should be balanced against the negative impact of virus. This article focuses on seeking best-balanced patch-injecting strategies. First, based on a novel virus-patch interactive model, the original problem is reduced to an optimal control problem, in which (a) each admissible control stands for a feasible patch-injecting strategy and (b) the objective functional measures the balance of a feasible patch-injecting strategy. Second, the solvability of the optimal control problem is proved, and the optimality system for solving the problem is derived. Next, a few best-balanced patch-injecting strategies are presented by solving the corresponding optimality systems. Finally, the effects of some factors on the best balance of a patch-injecting strategy are examined. Our results will be helpful in defending against virus attacks in a cost-effective way.