Error and attack tolerance of complex networks

Error and attack tolerance of complex networks

3 Aug 2000 | Réka Albert, Hawoong Jeong, Albert-László Barabási
Complex networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, exhibit surprising error tolerance. Scale-free networks, which have a power-law distribution of node connectivity, are more robust to random failures than exponential networks, which have an exponential distribution. Scale-free networks remain functional even when a large fraction of nodes fail, while exponential networks experience a significant increase in diameter as nodes are removed. However, scale-free networks are highly vulnerable to targeted attacks, where the most connected nodes are removed, leading to a rapid increase in diameter and fragmentation. Scale-free networks have an inhomogeneous connectivity distribution, with a few highly connected nodes that are critical for maintaining network connectivity. This makes them robust to random failures but vulnerable to targeted attacks. In contrast, exponential networks are homogeneous, with all nodes having similar connectivity, making them more susceptible to both random failures and targeted attacks. The study shows that scale-free networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, have a high degree of robustness against random failures, but are vulnerable to targeted attacks. This is due to their inhomogeneous connectivity distribution, which allows them to maintain functionality even when a large number of nodes fail. However, when the most connected nodes are removed, the network's connectivity is significantly disrupted. The research also highlights the importance of network topology in determining the resilience of complex systems. Scale-free networks are more robust to random failures but more vulnerable to targeted attacks. This has important implications for the design of communication systems and the understanding of the behavior of complex networks. The findings suggest that the topology of a network plays a crucial role in its ability to withstand errors and attacks, and that scale-free networks are particularly well-suited for systems that require high robustness against random failures.Complex networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, exhibit surprising error tolerance. Scale-free networks, which have a power-law distribution of node connectivity, are more robust to random failures than exponential networks, which have an exponential distribution. Scale-free networks remain functional even when a large fraction of nodes fail, while exponential networks experience a significant increase in diameter as nodes are removed. However, scale-free networks are highly vulnerable to targeted attacks, where the most connected nodes are removed, leading to a rapid increase in diameter and fragmentation. Scale-free networks have an inhomogeneous connectivity distribution, with a few highly connected nodes that are critical for maintaining network connectivity. This makes them robust to random failures but vulnerable to targeted attacks. In contrast, exponential networks are homogeneous, with all nodes having similar connectivity, making them more susceptible to both random failures and targeted attacks. The study shows that scale-free networks, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, have a high degree of robustness against random failures, but are vulnerable to targeted attacks. This is due to their inhomogeneous connectivity distribution, which allows them to maintain functionality even when a large number of nodes fail. However, when the most connected nodes are removed, the network's connectivity is significantly disrupted. The research also highlights the importance of network topology in determining the resilience of complex systems. Scale-free networks are more robust to random failures but more vulnerable to targeted attacks. This has important implications for the design of communication systems and the understanding of the behavior of complex networks. The findings suggest that the topology of a network plays a crucial role in its ability to withstand errors and attacks, and that scale-free networks are particularly well-suited for systems that require high robustness against random failures.
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