Purpose　-　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　present　a　new　immunization　strategy　for　effectively　solving　the　control　of　the　spread　of　the　virus.Design/methodology/approach　-　Inspired　by　the　idea　of　network　partition,　taking　two　optimization　targets　which　are　the　scale　of　sub-network　and　the　sum　of　the　strengths　of　the　sub-network＇s　nodes　into　account　at　the　same　time,　a　new　immunization　strategy　based　on　greedy　algorithm　in　the　scale-free　network　is　presented.　After　specifying　the　number　of　nodes　through　the　immunization,　the　network　is　divided　into　the　scale　of　sub-network　and　the　sum　of　the　strength　of　the　sub-network＇s　nodes　as　small　as　possible.Findings　-　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　proposed　algorithm　has　the　better　performance　than　targeted　immunization　which　is　supposed　to　be　highly　efficient　at　present.Originality/value　-　This　paper　proposes　a　new　immunization　strategy　based　on　greedy　algorithm　in　the　scale-free　network　for　effectively　solving　the　control　of　the　spread　of　the　virus.　©　Emerald　Group　Publishing　Limited.