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<p>So let's say you are attacking a large network, and you have a
number of implants on that network. At some point, some of those
implants get coopted by the defenders (or by another attacker).
You want to change the behavior of your implants if enough of them
are compromised or killed.</p>
<p>There are biological problems very similar to this: in
particular, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.livescience.com/57295-biofilms.html">biofilms</a>.
A key question of the microorganisms in a biofilm is "When do we
start making a biofilm?" I.E. completely diverse species of
bacteria need to realize they have a quorum and a good habitat and
a reason to produce a biofilm - and there are always reasons not
to! A biofilm is essentially a multi-cellular organism, which
means some members don't get to reproduce, and some members
specialize in ways that are very expensive! Even producing large
quantities of slime to hold the biofilm together can use up
valuable sugars that maybe could be put to use reproducing?</p>
<p>This is where "proof of work" and decentralized algorithms (aka
BlockChains) start to become very interesting for implant writers
(and for defenders).</p>
<p>-dave<br>
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