Comments on: Information Shadows, and the Difficulty of Anonymity http://artofconv.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/information-shadows-and-the-difficulty-of-anonymity/ Talking about Purposeful Online Conversation in Communities Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:26:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Justin http://artofconv.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/information-shadows-and-the-difficulty-of-anonymity/#comment-143 Justin Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:18:36 +0000 http://artofconv.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-143 I can understand that, but I do worry that these attacks on identity are likely to become only more broad-based, and easier. It's true that there isn't a high likelihood of someone spending considerable effort rooting out *your* identity per se. But I can see someone spending a lot of effort to break *every* identity on Twitter in a mass attack, and then selling the information cheaply. To be fair, the commercial motivation for that isn't yet clear, and it's unlikely to happen until and unless such a motive arises. But I'd guess that, if someone comes up with a decent reason to de-anonymize the social networks -- even if only a small fraction of those identities have value -- then mass de-anonymization seems likely... I can understand that, but I do worry that these attacks on identity are likely to become only more broad-based, and easier.

It’s true that there isn’t a high likelihood of someone spending considerable effort rooting out *your* identity per se. But I can see someone spending a lot of effort to break *every* identity on Twitter in a mass attack, and then selling the information cheaply.

To be fair, the commercial motivation for that isn’t yet clear, and it’s unlikely to happen until and unless such a motive arises. But I’d guess that, if someone comes up with a decent reason to de-anonymize the social networks — even if only a small fraction of those identities have value — then mass de-anonymization seems likely…

]]> By: Jim E-H http://artofconv.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/information-shadows-and-the-difficulty-of-anonymity/#comment-141 Jim E-H Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:25:00 +0000 http://artofconv.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-141 I'll have to look it over, but on the face of it, the de-anonymizing doesn't bother me much. I realize this isn't true for everyone, but when I post under a pseudonym, I only expect to protect my identity from casual observation (like someone googling me), not a concerted investigation. It's similar to how anyone could break into my house with a brick, but I still lock the door. It's deterrence, not a fortress, and in either case only likely to be breached by someone who is making a concerted effort, not casually or by accident. I’ll have to look it over, but on the face of it, the de-anonymizing doesn’t bother me much. I realize this isn’t true for everyone, but when I post under a pseudonym, I only expect to protect my identity from casual observation (like someone googling me), not a concerted investigation. It’s similar to how anyone could break into my house with a brick, but I still lock the door. It’s deterrence, not a fortress, and in either case only likely to be breached by someone who is making a concerted effort, not casually or by accident.

]]>