Browsing history linked to social media platforms, says research
Posted on: 21/Jan/2017 12:38:10 PM
New research conducted by the Princeton University has said that online behaviour can be identified by linking anonymous web browsing histories with your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles. The researchers found that anyone with access to browsing histories can identify many users by analysing public information from social media accounts.
Speaking about this, the researchers said, It is already known that some companies, such as Google and Facebook, track users online and know their identities. Those companies, which consumers choose to create accounts with, disclosed their tracking. Users may assume they are anonymous when they are browsing a news or a health website, but our work adds to the list of ways in which tracking companies may be able to learn their identities. Our results suggest that pseudonymous browsing histories fail this test. We found that online advertising companies build browsing histories of users with tracking programmes embedded on web pages. Each person`s browsing history is unique and contains tell-tale signs of their identity.
The study is scheduled for presentation at the World Wide Web Conference 2017 at Perth, Australia in April.
Speaking about this, the researchers said, It is already known that some companies, such as Google and Facebook, track users online and know their identities. Those companies, which consumers choose to create accounts with, disclosed their tracking. Users may assume they are anonymous when they are browsing a news or a health website, but our work adds to the list of ways in which tracking companies may be able to learn their identities. Our results suggest that pseudonymous browsing histories fail this test. We found that online advertising companies build browsing histories of users with tracking programmes embedded on web pages. Each person`s browsing history is unique and contains tell-tale signs of their identity.
The study is scheduled for presentation at the World Wide Web Conference 2017 at Perth, Australia in April.
