Modelling and Control of Trojan Propagation via Online Game Accelerators

The widespread use of online game accelerators also induces them to become a medium for hackers to spread Trojan horses. In this paper, we propose a novel compartment model which considered the heterogeneity of online computer game players aiming to characterize the Trojan propagation. Specifically, we distinguish rational game players from impulsive game players in our model. The spreading threshold is obtained, and the global stability of equilibrium is also verified. Moreover, Trojan’s control problem is studied by using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Numerical results confirm the stability of the system and the effectiveness of the optimal control strategy. Besides, more numerical results also show that some control strategies such as warning and caution should be taken at the very beginning of game player downloading the malicious accelerator.