Covert conflict in social networks

Last summer Ross Anderson and myself published a technical report titled “the topology of covert conflict” with preliminary results on attacks and defences in complex networks. We explored various tactical and strategic options available to combatants involved in conflict. The paper has now been accepted for publication at WEIS 2006.

This work has also been under discussion at various blogs and websites:

• Bruce Schneier’s Blog.
• Global Guerrillas — a blog on networked tribes, infrastructure disruption, and the emerging bazaar of violence — discusses attacks and defences in guerrilla networks.
• A Theory of Power, Jeff Vail’s Critique of Hierarchy & Empire talks about the battle between hierarchy and rhizome.