Modelling the spread of mobile malware

The popularity of mobile phones and the internet makes it more enticing for hackers to write viruses and create malicious code. There are currently over 150 mobile viruses today and the prevalence of mobile viruses in the US is currently at its tipping point. The first known cellular virus in the USA is called Cabir and was discovered in 2004. In this paper, we reveal how cellular phones running the Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems get infected through various channels, specifically, Bluetooth and 802.11 wireless. We investigated the transmission rate of mobile malware in Washington, DC from 2004 to 2012, focusing our research in the Washington DC metropolitan area being that it has a high risk of cyber terrorism attacks. The goal of our study is to show the impact of mobile malware on cell phones using the SIS epidemic model. We aim to help cell phone users prepare now in the event of a future mobile malware epidemic in the District. We then proposed some preventative measures. © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Duke Scholars

Author Alicia Nicki Washington Computer Science