Automatically detecting unauthorized re-identification

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatically detecting third- party re-identification of anonymized computing devices. The method includes retrieving a log of content items provided to anonymized computing devices identifying a first content item provided to a plurality of anonymized computing devices within a first predetermined time period; for each anonymized computing device of the plurality of anonymized computing devices, generating a set of identifications of second content items retrieved by the anonymized computing device prior to receiving the first content item within a second predetermined time period; determining that signals or combinations of signals with a highest predictive ability between a first set of identifications and a second set of identifications exceeds a threshold; identifying a provider of the first content item; and if the signals or combinations of signals with the highest predictive ability exceeds the threshold, preventing, transmission of a request of an anonymized computing device for a content item to the identified provider.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 412,027, filed May 14, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background technique [0003] Nowadays, it is very common for people to buy goods online instead of going to a physical store. Information about people is often tracked by third parties using cookies as they visit different web pages and domains to make purchases. Cookies enable third parties to track which web pages a person visits, how often the person visits each web page, how long the person stays on each web page before viewing a new web page, any choices the person makes on each web page, The content of each web page, any data entry performed by the person at each web page, etc. Third parties, usually content providers, use the data collected from cookies to select user-targeted content for users based on the data collected for each user via cookies. U...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Previous systems and methods were unable to determine how content was selected (e.g., targeted or randomly) to identify whether the content provider was tracking the user despite the user's selection of the option to disable cookies

Although web browsers can currently block third-party content providers who track users, even after the option not to be tracked is selected, prior systems and methods have been unable to identify content providers who are doing so

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