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Devil take the hindmost: Deflecting attacks to other defenders

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  • Bose, Gautam
  • Konrad, Kai A.

Abstract

We study the indirect strategic interactions between several defenders and between several attackers if each attacker chooses one defender to attack and the force of the attack. If the target choice is based on observations about chosen defence efforts, this choice behavior incentivizes the individual defenders and the defenders compete against each other to not being among the weakest targets. If defence effort is unobservable, this competition between defenders is absent. We also compare the fully non-cooperative equilibria with the outcome if the defenders cooperate and study possible non-cooperative contributions to collective defence.

Suggested Citation

  • Bose, Gautam & Konrad, Kai A., 2020. "Devil take the hindmost: Deflecting attacks to other defenders," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:204:y:2020:i:c:s0951832020307067
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2020.107205
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    Cited by:

    1. Konrad, Kai A. & Morath, Florian, 2023. "How to preempt attacks in multi-front conflict with limited resources," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(1), pages 493-500.
    2. Li, Qing & Li, Mingchu & Gong, Zhongqiang & Tian, Yuan & Zhang, Runfa, 2022. "Locating and protecting interdependent facilities to hedge against multiple non-cooperative limited choice attackers," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    3. Lin, Chen & Xiao, Hui & Peng, Rui & Xiang, Yisha, 2021. "Optimal defense-attack strategies between M defenders and N attackers: A method based on cumulative prospect theory," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Attack-and-defence; multiple targets; IT-Systems; Hackers; Private defence; Overarching defence; Deflection of attack;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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