Comparison, Analysis and Analogy of Biological and Computer Viruses

In digital world, it is amazing to note how the computer viruses are detected and rectified while observing the manifest, spread and combat of biological viruses in our human ecosystem. Both biological viruses and computer viruses are similar in nature. While observing it, as like genetic code of biological virus is detected by the immune system and react on them, the genetic code of the malware is identified by the cybersecurity system and rectified it. Biological viruses are mutating and imposing serious threats and challenges to our ecosystem. Similarly, human-created viruses such as malwares have invaded the hardware and software of the computer system. Further, as like biological viruses mutate naturally and evolve new viruses, man-made viruses in cyberspace are iterated by human hackers for financial gain. As like novel COVID-19 at present, biological viruses have always been a potent threat to humanity as multiple historic pandemics have proved. No wonder computer viruses have become an ideal weapon model in the world of cybersecurity system as like different ransomwares introduced in the recent times. This chapter focuses toward the in-depth analysis of existing biological and computer viruses and provides the in-depth analysis on origin, pattern, mutation, propagation, impact of infect, detection, emergence and its prevention. In addition, it bring out the comparison and analogy between the biological viruses and computer viruses experienced in the past and their existence at present. In order to work in this direction, as a first step, we wish to analyze the similarities and dissimilarities on how computer viruses and biological viruses originate, spread and damages that they cause. We believe, understanding this becomes essential in building any artificial intelligence or machine learning-based techniques that tight against the malware.