An Epidemiology-Based Model for Disclosing Dynamics of Malware Propagation in Heterogeneous and Mobile WSNs

Abstract

Heterogeneous and mobile wireless sensor networks (HMWSNs) are generally practical in constructing smart Internet of Things. However, malware can easily propagate itself over HMWSNs and make harm such as data interception and unauthorized activities. To defend such malware, developing a model to disclose dynamics of malware propagation becomes urgently required. In this context, a heterogeneous and mobile vulnerable-compromised-quarantined-patched-scrapped (VCQPS) model is proposed by considering both the heterogeneity and mobility of HMSNs (heterogeneous and mobile sensor nodes). Then, differential equations of transition proportions among all states are achieved by analyzing the changeable quantities of HMSNs belonging to different states. Further, the existence of the stationary points of the VCQPS model is proved, upon which the malware propagation threshold is derived by calculating the reproduction number. The stability of the malware-free stationary-point is also proved. Experiments are performed to validate the stability of the malware-free stationary-point and show the effectiveness of the VCQPS model by comparing our model with traditional SIS and SIR models.

Keywords

• Heterogeneous and mobile wireless sensor networks
• malware
• epidemic theory
• heterogeneity
• mobility