Protection of multilayer network systems from targeted group attacks

Abstract

The main types of simultaneous targeted group attacks on complex network systems and processes of intersystem interactions are discussed in the article. On the basis of structural model of multilayer network system (MLNS) and its aggregate-network, the most important components from a structural point of view, namely the cores of various types, whose damage will cause the greatest lesions of MLNS's structure, are highlighted. On the basis of flow model of multilayer system and its flow aggregate-network, the most important their components from a functional point of view, namely the flow cores of various types, whose damage will cause the greatest lesions of the process of inter-system interactions, are determined. Effective scenarios of successive and sim-ultaneous targeted group attacks on the structure and operation process of multilayer network systems have been developed using the structural and flow cores of aggregate-networks of MLNS. It is shown that the use of flow-based approach allows us to build much more effective scenarios of such attacks, as well as to more accurately evaluate the consequences of resulting lesions.