Malware propagation model in wireless sensor networks under attack–defense confrontation

Abstract An important security problem faced by wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is malware propagation. Traditional malware propagation models take less consideration of the impact of the attack and defense processes on malware propagation results. We analyzed the micro-mechanism of malware propagation in WSNs from the perspective of the game theory, established the attack–defense game model of WSNs, derived the mixed Nash equilibrium solution of the game model, and derived the contagion probability of malwares according to the mixed Nash equilibrium strategy of both sides in the game, thus establishing the malware propagation model in WSNs. From the analysis of the theoretical model, we deduced the relationship between the steady-state infection ratio and the game parameters and obtained the conditions for the long-term existence of malwares. In addition, we simulated the propagation process of malwares in WSNs with cellular automaton and the simulation results verified the correctness of the theoretical model. The results have theoretical guiding significance for suppressing the propagation of malwares in WSNs.