Federal Drive

Turning to nature to counter cyberattacks

A team of computer scientists at Wake-Forest University is creating an algorithm inspired by genetic survival of the fittest.

Federal News Network Staff

February 17, 2012 9:21 am

< a min read

Researchers are turning to nature for inspiration in fighting cyberattacks.

A team of computer scientists at Wake-Forest University is creating an algorithm inspired by genetic survival of the fittest. By creating genetic-like diversity in the codes, researchers hope to better protect large computer infrastructures. That isn’t the only nature inspired project. The team is also training digital “ants” to protect the nation’s power grid. Federal Computer Week reports, when one ant discovers an intruder, other members of the colony spring to action to alert the IT administrator.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.