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Adversarial Risk Analysis with Incomplete Information: A Level‐k Approach

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  • Casey Rothschild
  • Laura McLay
  • Seth Guikema

Abstract

This article proposes, develops, and illustrates the application of level‐k game theory to adversarial risk analysis. Level‐k reasoning, which assumes that players play strategically but have bounded rationality, is useful for operationalizing a Bayesian approach to adversarial risk analysis. It can be applied in a broad class of settings, including settings with asynchronous play and partial but incomplete revelation of early moves. Its computational and elicitation requirements are modest. We illustrate the approach with an application to a simple defend‐attack model in which the defender's countermeasures are revealed with a probability less than one to the attacker before he decides on how or whether to attack.

Suggested Citation

  • Casey Rothschild & Laura McLay & Seth Guikema, 2012. "Adversarial Risk Analysis with Incomplete Information: A Level‐k Approach," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(7), pages 1219-1231, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:32:y:2012:i:7:p:1219-1231
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01701.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Wei Wang & Francesco Di Maio & Enrico Zio, 2019. "Adversarial Risk Analysis to Allocate Optimal Defense Resources for Protecting Cyber–Physical Systems from Cyber Attacks," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(12), pages 2766-2785, December.
    3. J. S. Busby & B. Green & D. Hutchison, 2017. "Analysis of Affordance, Time, and Adaptation in the Assessment of Industrial Control System Cybersecurity Risk," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(7), pages 1298-1314, July.
    4. R. Piccinelli & G. Sansavini & R. Lucchetti & E. Zio, 2017. "A General Framework for the Assessment of Power System Vulnerability to Malicious Attacks," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(11), pages 2182-2190, November.
    5. Yanling Chang & Alan Erera & Chelsea White, 2015. "A leader–follower partially observed, multiobjective Markov game," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 235(1), pages 103-128, December.
    6. Mohammad E. Nikoofal & Mehmet Gümüs, 2015. "On the value of terrorist’s private information in a government’s defensive resource allocation problem," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(6), pages 533-555, June.
    7. David Rios Insua & Aitor Couce‐Vieira & Jose A. Rubio & Wolter Pieters & Katsiaryna Labunets & Daniel G. Rasines, 2021. "An Adversarial Risk Analysis Framework for Cybersecurity," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 16-36, January.
    8. William M. Kroshl & Shahram Sarkani & Thomas A Mazzuchi, 2015. "Efficient Allocation of Resources for Defense of Spatially Distributed Networks Using Agent‐Based Simulation," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(9), pages 1690-1705, September.
    9. Roponen, Juho & Ríos Insua, David & Salo, Ahti, 2020. "Adversarial risk analysis under partial information," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 306-316.
    10. Stefan Rass & Sandra König & Stefan Schauer, 2017. "Defending Against Advanced Persistent Threats Using Game-Theory," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(1), pages 1-43, January.

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