Evaluation and generalization of trust models in P2P networks

Peer to Peer (P2P) networks have been widely used recently in various applications such as file sharing, content distribution, and e-commerce. At the same time, there were a number of attacks on the reputation mechanisms in these P2P networks. These attacks try to manipulate or misuse the reputation systems so that ratings on certain peers are biased, changed, or ignored. Many approaches have tried to defend against these attacks. This paper first provides a comparative study on trust models for P2P networks, with a focus on three major trust models: Eigentrust, PeerTrust, and R2Trust. We then propose a generalized trust model, show its parameters, and present a detailed analysis on how existing approaches can be encompassed in this model. In addition, we discuss issues related to existing models, and indicate a few potential areas for future research.