Human Immune System Model for Computer Security
Researchers at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque think that the human immune system may hold the key to battling computer viruses and ultimately might determine how tomorrow's computer security systems are designed.

According to researchers at UNM, the human immune system can distinguish between the body’s own "self" cells and dangerous "other" or "nonself" organisms. Once the nonself matter is detected, it is then attacked by the human body and destroyed. Researchers are hoping to one day train computer security systems to operate in much the same fashion. In the computer system, what is considered "nonself" might be an unauthorized user, foreign code in the form of a computer virus or worm, unanticipated code in the form of a Trojan horse, or just corrupted data.

If such a system can be achieved, it would represent a significant advancement in the field of computer security, say experts. "Although there are many differences between living organisms and computer systems," says Stephanie Forrest, computer science professor and researcher at UNM, "we believe that the similarities are compelling and could point the way to improved computer security."

According to UNM, such a system would be based upon more complex notions of identity and protection than is the case with contemporary computer security. While UNM researchers have tested the concept, human immune system inspired security systems are still many years off.