A phenotype reputation estimation function and its study of resilience to social attacks

A reputation function and associated reputation management system (RMS) seem to be at the heart of all online transactional activities that require trust. However, most of the first generation RMS used are yet very basic, ad hoc and often vulnerable to various attacks. In this research, we take a holistic approach to this interesting problem of RMS design. We propose a generalized set-theoretic phenotype reputation function where its specific components can be customized to meet the reputation requirements of wide variety of reputation assessment needs encountered in today's online activities. We show the construction of canonical classes of reputation functions built on this framework. We then analyze their attack tolerance against various socio-communal reputation attacks such as gang attacks, vendetta and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.