Finding traitors in secure networks using Byzantine agreements

Abstract

Secure networks rely upon players to maintain security and reliability. However not every player can be assumed to have total loyalty and one must use methods to uncover traitors in such networks. We use the original concept of the Byzantine Generals Problem by Lamport [8], and the more formal Byzantine Agreement describe by Linial [10], to find traitors in secure networks. By applying general fault-tolerance methods to develop a more formal design of secure networks we are able to uncover traitors amongst a group of players. We also propose methods to integrate this system with insecure channels. This new resiliency can be applied to broadcast and peer-to-peer secure com- munication systems where agents may be traitors or be- come unreliable due to faults.