QUANTITATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT OF COMPUTER VIRUS ATTACKS ON COMPUTER-NETWORKS

This paper discusses the various types of malicious software, particul arly computer viruses, which threaten computer network dependability, including such attributes as reliability, availability, safety and sec urity of computer systems. Quantitative risk assessment of computer vi rus attacks on computer networks is investigated. To this end, an anal ytical model to study computer virus propagation in a typical network is developed and the results are presented. The model developed in thi s paper theoretically supports what is commonly performed in network m anagement, where particular network resources are to be protected or p reserved under hostile conditions. Some strategic controls are discuss ed.