Title: A nature-inspired camouflaging approach to protect nuclear secrets

Authors: Suman Rao

Addresses: Risk Analytics and Solutions, 401, Valentina, Hiranandani Estate, Patlipada, Thane (W), India

Abstract: Nuclear weapons laboratories face a frequent challenge when they have to grant access to classified information (secrets) on a need-to-know (NTK) basis. Currently such access decisions are subjective – leading to risks of releasing classified information to non-deserving information-seekers. This paper suggests a nature-inspired simulation model |Discerning Nuclear Intentions (DiNI)–NTK| based on the phenomenon of camouflaging (mimicry) in order to lend objectivity to NTK decision-making. The model uses a combination of information vulnerability and characteristics – factors that help assess possible |camouflaging| intentions of the information-seeker and then accordingly make an informed NTK decision. Based on a live indictment of a nuclear physicist and his wife who were formerly employed in a nuclear weapons laboratory, DiNI–NTK is tested with estimated parameter values and the output of the model has provided the correct non-disclosure decision. This model can be used to inform NTK-based classified information access decisions in an objective manner.

Keywords: nuclear secrets; classified information; information security; NTK; need-to-know; decision making; nuclear intentions; camouflage; mimicry; Los Alamos National Laboratory; nuclear weapons laboratories; nature-inspired computation; bio-inspired computation; simulation; modelling; information vulnerability; camouflaging intentions; disclosure decisions; information disclosure; nuclear knowledge.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNKM.2011.040941

International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management, 2011 Vol.5 No.2, pp.178 - 193

Published online: 18 Feb 2015 *

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