thanks. From the attacker’s prospective, it doesn’t really matter whether their victim knows them. All they care is that in the virtual world there is only one step (as you pointed in your respond) that separates them. This means, that if the attacker gains control of the communication medium, they will also be able to get closer to their victim.

Well, the answer is zero. Between me and Paris there are no other steps just like between me and you, the reader

First of all, the answer isn’t zero. The only person at zero step from you is yourself – each person you know is one step away from you. So, maybe, it would be one step.

Second, you’re drawing shortcuts where there’s none. The arcs in the graph of connectedness are about knowledge. People you know and that know you. The latter is important – we all “know” the President, or major stars, or socialite Paris Hilton. Does that mean we have only a single step in the connection graph? No. Because the President, or Ms Hilton doesn’t know you.

The social web system is a wonderful tool to densify the connection graph. But the mere existence of a page doesn’t create an arc in it – its use creates one. To have an arc connecting us, it would take discussion (by posting this, I am creating the arc… assuming you read it).

If you accept directed, non reciprocal arcs, then yes, Ms Hilton is one step from you. But then, how many steps are you from her?

In our bizarre society, its more socially acceptable to approach a celebrity I’ve never met, than some one I used to go to school with. There is a diminished expectation of privacy with celebs. I think all celebs are o degrees of separation from everyone, but us mortals are still 6 degrees form each other.