{
  "abstract": "A computer virus is a type of malware that, upon execution, can replicate itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its code into them. This study develops a stochastic fractional-order delay differential equation model (SFDDE) to describe computer-virus dynamics by partitioning the system into uninfected S(t), latent infected L(t), and actively seizing V(t) computer populations. The model establishes the well-posedness of solutions, including existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness, and identifies two equilibria: the computer-virus-free equilibrium (CV-FE) and the computer-virus-present equilibrium (CV-PE). The basic reproduction number is derived using the next-generation matrix method, followed by local and global stability analyses of the equilibrium points. A sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the influence of key parameters on virus transmission. Furthermore, a stochastic Non-Standard Finite Difference (NSFD) scheme is constructed to preserve the essential qualitative properties of the model, and its numerical performance is compared with the fractional Euler–Maruyama method using step-size refinement and quantitative error measures. The numerical experiments illustrate the effects of fractional memory, transmission delay, and stochastic perturbations on computer-virus dynamics. The results provide mathematical insight into computer-virus propagation and indicate the importance of reducing virus transmission and improving detection, removal, and recovery processes for effective cybersecurity management. The study demonstrates the usefulness of stochastic fractional-order delay modeling and structure-preserving numerical methods for analyzing complex computer-virus dynamics.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Mathematics, Fırat University, Elazığ, Türkiye",
    "IT4Innovations, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic",
    "Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic",
    "Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon",
    "Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ali Raza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marek Lampart"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Umar Shafique"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Dumitru Baleanu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Maysaa Elmahi Abd Elwahab"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7qzhxqar2wtvq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360254",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7qzhxqar2wtvq",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360254",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2739|Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Evolutionary biology/Organismal evolution/Microbial evolution/Viral evolution"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial evolution/Viral evolution"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Virology/Viral evolution"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer applications/Computer modeling"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer applications/Computerized simulations"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computer security"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Computing methods"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Computer and information sciences/Systems science/System stability"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Systems science/System stability"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Simulation and modeling"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221803250",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0360254&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-14",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7qzhxqar2wtvq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360254",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360254"
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  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:evolutionary biology",
      "subfield": "evolutionary-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A stochastic fractional model for computer virus propagation with memory effects and exponential delay",
  "title_text": "A stochastic fractional model for computer virus propagation with memory effects and exponential delay",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7qzhxqar2wtvq",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}