A Game-Theoretic Analysis of Cyber Switching Attacks and Mitigation in Smart Grid Systems

We propose a framework for the analysis of cyber switching attacks and control-based mitigation in cyber-enabled power systems. Our model of the switching attack is simple, only requiring knowledge of the sign of the local relative rotor speed, which may be estimated. The controller is modeled to be resource constrained, choosing to act only during select intervals of time. We make use of an iterated game-theoretic formulation to describe the interactions of the parties and its effect on system stability. Analytic results indicate the potential of the constrained controller to achieve transient stabilization over time using zero-determinant strategies. Numerical results of the New England 39-bus power system demonstrate the potential for such a controller to increase system resilience during cyber-attacks.