Towards attack tolerant networks: Concurrent multipath routing and the butterfly network

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Network Security
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Large-scale communication networks like the internet are vulnerable to censorship and surveillance attacks.
• Existing cryptographic solutions do not address the underlying topological vulnerabilities.
• Network topology significantly impacts resilience against targeted attacks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel topological approaches for coercion-resistant communication networks.
• To present a concurrent multipath routing (CMR) algorithm and a Structured Multipath Fault Tolerance (SMFT) architecture.
• To explore the relationship between network topology, trust transitivity, and attack tolerance.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel concurrent multipath routing (CMR) algorithm for the wraparound butterfly network topology.
• Proposed a Structured Multipath Fault Tolerance (SMFT) architecture incorporating the CMR algorithm.
• Analyzed the internet's router network topology and demonstrated partial rewiring for improved attack tolerance.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the first theoretical point-to-point communication network architecture resistant to coercion and non-technical attacks.
• Showcased the effectiveness of the CMR algorithm and SMFT architecture in enhancing network resilience.
• Identified and provided a framework for understanding the link between network topology, trust, and attack tolerance.

Conclusions:

• Topological solutions are crucial for building resilient communication infrastructure against censorship and surveillance.
• The proposed CMR algorithm and SMFT architecture offer a robust defense against various network attacks.
• Further research into topology-based solutions can lead to more secure and attack-tolerant communication systems.