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Weighted Regression with Sybil Networks

Nihar Shah

arXiv 30 Aug 2024 · Statistics — Methodology

arXiv:2408.17426 · PDF · DOI · OpenAlex · Extracted main text

Abstract

In many online domains, Sybil networks -- or cases where a single user assumes multiple identities -- is a pervasive feature. This complicates experiments, as off-the-shelf regression estimators at least assume known network topologies (if not fully independent observations) when Sybil network topologies in practice are often unknown. The literature has exclusively focused on techniques to detect Sybil networks, leading many experimenters to subsequently exclude suspected networks entirely before estimating treatment effects. I present a more efficient solution in the presence of these suspected Sybil networks: a weighted regression framework that applies weights based on the probabilities that sets of observations are controlled by single actors. I show in the paper that the MSE-minimizing solution is to set the weight matrix equal to the inverse of the expected network topology. I demonstrate the methodology on simulated data, and then I apply the technique to a competition with suspected Sybil networks run on the Sui blockchain and show reductions in the standard error of the estimate by 6 - 24%.

Citation extraction

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Most heavily cited references

The works this paper leans on most, across its whole bibliography — not restricted to papers in our corpus. Ranked by composite intensity, which combines how often a work is mentioned, how many sections mention it, and how much of that falls in the main text rather than the appendix.

ReferenceIntensityMentionsSectionsMain text
1Labs, Mysten (2023) Achievement Unlocked: Wrapping Up Quest 30.51121100%
2Gong, Neil Zhenqiang, Frank, Mario, Mittal, Prateek (2014) SybilBelief: A Semi-Supervised Learning Approach for Structure-Based Sybil Detection0.40511100%
3Van Aken, Andrew (2024) Announcing Sybil Detection0.40511100%
4Carroll, Raymond J, Ruppert, David (2017) Transformation and weighting in regression0.40511100%
5Danezis, George, Mittal, Prateek (2009) Sybilinfer: Detecting sybil nodes using social networks.0.40511100%
6Douceur, John R (2002) The Sybil Attack0.40511100%
7Abadie, Alberto, Athey, Susan, Imbens, Guido W, Wooldridge, Jeffrey M (2022) When Should You Adjust Standard Errors for Clustering?*0.40511100%
8Yang, Zhi, Wilson, Christo, Wang, Xiao, Gao, Tingting, Zhao, Ben Y.,… (2011) Uncovering Social Network Sybils in the Wild0.40511100%

Showing the top 8 of 8 scored citations.