Improving network robustness against localized attacks by link modification

Abstract

Localized attacks disrupt nodes within specific regions, posing challenges in network science due to their relevance to phenomena like natural disasters. This study explores strategies to improve network robustness against such attacks through selective link modifications. Two approaches are evaluated: link addition, introducing connections to enhance connectivity, and link removal, targeting specific links to reduce failure propagation. Simulations reveal that the longest-distance strategy is effective for adding a few links, while the low-degree strategy excels with more links. For link removal, the hub-cutting strategy enhances robustness by limiting connectivity between high-degree nodes. These results highlight practical methods to counter localized disruptions.