Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 24: Networks, From Topology to Dynamics (joint session BP/DY/SOE)

DY 24.5: Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 16:45–17:00, H37

Resilience to Leaking - Dynamic Systems Modeling of Information Security — •Kay Hamacher — Department of Computer Science, Department of Physics & Department of Biology, Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany

Leaking of confidential material is a major threat to information security. This insight become popular wisdom since Wikileaks, which hopes to attack 'unjust' systems or 'conspiracies'.

Eventually, such threats to information security rely on a biologistic argument on the benefits and drawbacks that uncontrolled leaking might pose for 'just' and 'unjust' entities. Such biological metaphors are almost exclusively based on the economic advantage of participants.

Here, I introduce a mathematical model of the complex systems dynamics implied by leaking. The complex interactions of adversaries are modeled by coupled logistic equations including network effects of econo-communication networks.

Situations might arise where leaking can strengthen the 'conspiracy'. The only impact leaking can have on an organization originates in the exploitation of leaks by a competing entity. We conclude that leaks can be used as a `tactical mean' in direct adversary relations, but do not necessarily increase public benefit.

Within the model exploiting the competition between entities seems to be a more promising approach to control malicious organizations: divide-et-impera policies triumph here.

[1] K. Hamacher, "Resilience to Leaking - Dynamic Systems Modeling of Information Security", PLoS One, 2012, accepted