Privacy – what do they know about you?
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Skills: none
IT concepts: logging, privacy, proxy server
Where does this topic fit?
• Internet concepts– Applications– Technology (communication)– Implications
• Internet skills– Application development– Content creation
Some uses for log information
• Start and end dates and times – Used to grade the assignment
• Linked-from URL– Useful as market research
• IP address – Find your approximate location– Clue as to your identity (time plus IP address)
Sites can offer “opt in” or “opt out” privacy – would you opt to share your background survey responses?
Location for 155.135.1.1 (CSUDH)from Geobytes.com
Localization is approximate – we are in Carson, not Torrance. It uses databases which in some cases are inaccurate.
Spoofing your IP address with a proxy server
Withproxy
Normal connection
Localization can be defeated by a proxy server, which can be in any nation or location.
Storage is cheap and getting cheaper
• Every response to every survey is logged• Search engines like Google log every search• Localization is used to target ads and rank
search results• Log information is used in applications like spell
checking and speech recognition (1-800-GOOG-411 )
Google mines logs for spell checking
When I correct “Presss” to “Press” it learns this is a common misspelling and correction, improving future accuracy.
Google mines logs for speech recognition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN0q8SvlQAk
Google knows which words are likely to be used together in general as well as things about you like what words you have used and your location. They also have a “yellow pages” database.
Dial 1-800-goog411 to reach Google’s voice driven business telephone directory or watch a demonstration at:
• What is Google’s motivation in logging your searches?• Does Google offer you the option of opting out of their
logs?• Are you worried by the fact that search engines track
your online activity?• Which services other than search engines track your
online activity?• Are there any advantages to you to have Google track
your searches?• Are there any applications for proxy servers beside
covering up shady activity?• Do we need laws to limit logging?