A distributed approach to computer virus detection and neutralization by autonomous and heterogeneous agents

Recent expansion of the computer network opened a possibility of explosive spread of computer viruses. We propose a distributed approach against computer virus using also the computer network that allows distributed and agent-based approach. Our anti-virus system consists of several heterogeneous agents similarly to the immune system. Among these agents, antibody agents use the information of "self" (files of host computer) rather than the information of "non-self" (computer viruses). After detection and neutralization of computer viruses, the anti-virus system tries to recover original files that are distributed over the uninfected hosts connected by LAN. This recovery is also done by several heterogeneous agents. As a whole, the proposed anti-virus system can be regarded a backup system with computer network. We implemented the antivirus system with JAVA, and tested against some existing viruses.