1. A method of determining a probability of inferring an unknown attribute value for an attribute of interest for a target node in a social network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving values for the attribute of interest for a plurality of additional nodes in the social network; receiving links between the target node and the additional nodes; receiving links among the additional nodes; creating a simplified network using the received values and links; and calculating, using the simplified network, the probability of inferring the unknown attribute value for the target node.