A Framework of Hierarchical Attacks to Network Controllability

TL;DR

This paper introduces a hierarchical attack framework targeting network controllability, classifying edges and nodes by importance to optimize destructive attacks, with implications for designing more robust networks.

Contribution

It proposes a novel hierarchical attack strategy based on edge and node importance, enhancing the understanding of network controllability robustness.

Findings

Hierarchical attack strategies effectively disrupt network controllability.

Critical edges and nodes are key targets for attack.

Hiding critical components can improve network robustness.

Abstract

Network controllability robustness reflects how well a networked dynamical system can maintain its controllability against destructive attacks. This paper investigates the network controllability robustness from the perspective of a malicious attack. A framework of hierarchical attack is proposed, by means of edge- or node-removal attacks. Edges (or nodes) in a target network are classified hierarchically into categories, with different priorities to attack. The category of critical edges (or nodes) has the highest priority to be selected for attack. Extensive experiments on nine synthetic networks and nine real-world networks show the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchical attack strategies for destructing the network controllability. From the protection point of view, this study suggests that the critical edges and nodes should be hidden from the attackers. This finding helps better understand the network controllability and better design robust networks.