By Eric Frazier Office of Communications and External Relations
September 21, 2009 In the never-ending battle to protect
computer networks from intruders, security experts are deploying
a new defense modeled after one of nature's hardiest creatures -
the ant. Unlike traditional security devices, which are static,
these "digital ants" wander through computer networks looking
for threats, such as "computer worms" - self-replicating
programs designed to steal information or facilitate
unauthorized use of machines. When a digital ant detects a
threat, it doesn't take long for an army of ants to converge at
that location, drawing the attention of human operators who step
in to investigate. The concept, called "swarm intelligence,"
promises to transform cyber security because it adapts readily
to changing threats. "In nature, we know that ants defend
against threats very successfully," explains Professor of
Computer Science Errin Fulp, an expert in security and computer
networks. "They can ramp up their defense rap