Comments on: Anonymized Logs of 500000 AOL users on the net http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/ A technology news blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:48:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Updates on the AOL Scandalhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-1145600 Updates on the AOL Scandal Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:49:49 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-1145600 [...] Aol released private search queries of 500.000 AOL users to the public. Analysts and Journalists alike are having a busy time analysing the data for various reasons. I was able to identify three different motivations: 1. How big is the privacy breach, 2. Is it possible to identify someone from the queries and 3. analysing the queries from a marketing point of view.Eliott Back searched the data for credit card numbers, social security numbers and email addresses and found disturbing numbers. He found an undisclosed amount of credit card numbers, about 200 social security numbers and nearly 60 email addresses. The danger that someone will misuse the given data is present and likely.The first AOL user has been identified by the New York Times. AOL user 4417749, known as Thelma Arnold, a 62-year-old widow who lives in Lilburn, Ga., was identified by analyzing the searches she conducted. I suppose she will not be the last one that will be identified and there surely will be some sort of backlash for AOL.Webmasters began to import the data into databases and offer ways to search the data here or here on the web for free.The first response from AOL was that the data was released by mistake and that the intention was to reach the academic world. Unfortunately for them they came up with the idea to make this publicly available instead of giving it out only to people who request the data for research. They really should have know that this could have happened.Related Articles:Centralized Internet Fraud Alert System Launches To Prove A Point, Microsoft Creates A Bank For A Day How Stolen Credit Cards are sold Anonymized Logs of 500000 AOL users on the net Anti-Phishing Tips google_ad_client = "pub-5406364303442190";/* 300x250, created 2/27/09 */google_ad_slot = "1148508964";google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250; Tags:aol, aol logs, aol scandalCategories:Search EnginesYou are here: Home » Search Engines » Updates on the AOL ScandalPrevious Post: Ghacks first Anniversary CompetitionNext Post: Mikes Command Line Leave a Reply   Follow Ghacks   Subscribe To Comment Rss Click here to cancel reply. Name Mail (will not be published) Website [...] [...] Aol released private search queries of 500.000 AOL users to the public. Analysts and Journalists alike are having a busy time analysing the data for various reasons. I was able to identify three different motivations: 1. How big is the privacy breach, 2. Is it possible to identify someone from the queries and 3. analysing the queries from a marketing point of view.Eliott Back searched the data for credit card numbers, social security numbers and email addresses and found disturbing numbers. He found an undisclosed amount of credit card numbers, about 200 social security numbers and nearly 60 email addresses. The danger that someone will misuse the given data is present and likely.The first AOL user has been identified by the New York Times. AOL user 4417749, known as Thelma Arnold, a 62-year-old widow who lives in Lilburn, Ga., was identified by analyzing the searches she conducted. I suppose she will not be the last one that will be identified and there surely will be some sort of backlash for AOL.Webmasters began to import the data into databases and offer ways to search the data here or here on the web for free.The first response from AOL was that the data was released by mistake and that the intention was to reach the academic world. Unfortunately for them they came up with the idea to make this publicly available instead of giving it out only to people who request the data for research. They really should have know that this could have happened.Related Articles:Centralized Internet Fraud Alert System Launches To Prove A Point, Microsoft Creates A Bank For A Day How Stolen Credit Cards are sold Anonymized Logs of 500000 AOL users on the net Anti-Phishing Tips google_ad_client = "pub-5406364303442190";/* 300×250, created 2/27/09 */google_ad_slot = "1148508964";google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250; Tags:aol, aol logs, aol scandalCategories:Search EnginesYou are here: Home » Search Engines » Updates on the AOL ScandalPrevious Post: Ghacks first Anniversary CompetitionNext Post: Mikes Command Line Leave a Reply   Follow Ghacks   Subscribe To Comment Rss Click here to cancel reply. Name Mail (will not be published) Website [...]

]]> By: Cornflakeshttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-45506 Cornflakes Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:33:38 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-45506 A *quick* site where you can search the AOL Logs for yourself, is here: http://www.frogspy.com A *quick* site where you can search the AOL Logs for yourself, is here:

http://www.frogspy.com

]]> By: tyhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-42344 ty Sat, 12 Aug 2006 14:55:36 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-42344 A site where you can search the data is here: http://www.datablunder.com/logitems/query/ A site where you can search the data is here:

http://www.datablunder.com/logitems/query/

]]> By: Peter Hueskenhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-41615 Peter Huesken Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:43:15 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-41615 Regarding encryption: ok. But between User and Proxy it could work, couldn´t it ? Regarding breaking the AOL semi-anonymised logs: New York Times journalists have broken the first one already... Cheers, Peter Regarding encryption: ok. But between User and Proxy it could work, couldn´t it ?

Regarding breaking the AOL semi-anonymised logs:
New York Times journalists have broken the first one already…

Cheers,
Peter

]]> By: Martinhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-41170 Martin Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:18:44 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-41170 well Peter, the problem with encryption is that both sides have to support it. It does no good if you encrypt your data and the other side is not able to decrypt it and send encrypted data back. That means, there is no such thing for firefox. It is possible to use encryption in email with friends for example, or encryption on your hard drive but not the way you want it to be. well Peter, the problem with encryption is that both sides have to support it. It does no good if you encrypt your data and the other side is not able to decrypt it and send encrypted data back.

That means, there is no such thing for firefox. It is possible to use encryption in email with friends for example, or encryption on your hard drive but not the way you want it to be.

]]> By: Peter Hueskenhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-41145 Peter Huesken Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:17:56 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-41145 Yes, I see. So is there a good overall firefox encryption extension that you would advise ? Cheers, Peter Yes, I see.

So is there a good overall firefox encryption extension that you would advise ?

Cheers,
Peter

]]> By: Martinhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-41133 Martin Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:18:30 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-41133 I stand corrected ;) I really think they wanted to improve their image by releasing the data. They made one mistake though, forgot about the rights of their customers, forgot about privacy at all. Big blunder, I suppose some people will loose their jobs over this. The secretmaker software would not have changed the logfiles. Your ISP always knows what you are up to. Well, unless you use encryption for your traffic that is. Let us take a look at a proxy for example: Normal connection. You < --> ISP < --> Destination Proxy Connection You < --> ISP < --> Proxy < --> Destination The only possible solution is encryption, everything else can be read and logged. I stand corrected ;)

I really think they wanted to improve their image by releasing the data. They made one mistake though, forgot about the rights of their customers, forgot about privacy at all.

Big blunder, I suppose some people will loose their jobs over this.

The secretmaker software would not have changed the logfiles. Your ISP always knows what you are up to. Well, unless you use encryption for your traffic that is.

Let us take a look at a proxy for example:

Normal connection.

You < --> ISP < --> Destination

Proxy Connection

You < --> ISP < --> Proxy < --> Destination

The only possible solution is encryption, everything else can be read and logged.

]]> By: Peter Hueskenhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-41125 Peter Huesken Tue, 08 Aug 2006 11:50:20 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-41125 Wow, "20.000.000 million web queries from about 500.000 AOL users in the course of three months", that´s *a lot*. As in: more than 5 queries per second per user 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You might mean 20 million ;-) Only kidding, nice piece you wrote today. Absolutely unbelievable that AOL does a stupid thing like this (Or maybe I don´t know AOL well enough and than maybe it *is* believable ;-) We now just have to wait for someone to: break the unique code and create a mashup with other databases (say: phonebook) I guess this will happen before September Wanna bet ? ;-) Was it this schandal that prompted you to post about the secretmaker software ? Cheers, Peter Wow, “20.000.000 million web queries from about 500.000 AOL users in the course of three months”, that´s *a lot*. As in: more than 5 queries per second per user 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
You might mean 20 million ;-)

Only kidding, nice piece you wrote today.
Absolutely unbelievable that AOL does a stupid thing like this (Or maybe I don´t know AOL well enough and than maybe it *is* believable ;-)

We now just have to wait for someone to:
break the unique code and create a mashup with other databases (say: phonebook)
I guess this will happen before September
Wanna bet ? ;-)

Was it this schandal that prompted you to post about the secretmaker software ?

Cheers,
Peter

]]> By: Terminally Incoherent » Blog Archive » AOL Privacy Blunderhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-40763 Terminally Incoherent » Blog Archive » AOL Privacy Blunder Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:19:41 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-40763 [...] True to their destructive mission, AOL has publicly released semi-anonymised logs from their search site. This essentially means that all the search queries made of over 500k users between the months of march and may 2006 were posted out in the open. [...] [...] True to their destructive mission, AOL has publicly released semi-anonymised logs from their search site. This essentially means that all the search queries made of over 500k users between the months of march and may 2006 were posted out in the open. [...]

]]> By: Elliott Backhttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-40625 Elliott Back Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:42:48 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-40625 <strong>AOL Gate: Search Query Data Scandal</strong> Techcrunch notes that AOL has released a file containing 20,000,000 queries from “anonymized” users. However, this is a problem because anything those users typed into AOL search–social security numbers, names, drug deals, etc can be... AOL Gate: Search Query Data Scandal

Techcrunch notes that AOL has released a file containing 20,000,000 queries from “anonymized” users. However, this is a problem because anything those users typed into AOL search–social security numbers, names, drug deals, etc can be…

]]> By: The Paradigm Shifthttp://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/comment-page-1/#comment-40613 The Paradigm Shift Mon, 07 Aug 2006 08:20:11 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/2006/08/07/anonymised-logs-of-500000-aol-users-on-the-net/#comment-40613 <strong>AOL Search Data Shows Users Planning to commit Murder.</strong> http://research.aol.com released a list of 20 million + searches by 500,000 AOL users.  Contained in this list are social security numbers, credit cards and other personal information.   There are some truly scary things in this database. There are... AOL Search Data Shows Users Planning to commit Murder.

http://research.aol.com released a list of 20 million + searches by 500,000 AOL users.  Contained in this list are social security numbers, credit cards and other personal information.   There are some truly scary things in this database.
There are…

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