Exploring privacy risks in information networks is analysing the dangers and hazards that are related to personal information about users of a network. It is about investigating the dynamics and complexities of a setting where humans are served by technology in order to exploit the network for their own good. In the information network, malicious activities are motivated by commercial factors in that the attacks to privacy are happening, not in the name of national security, but in the name of the free market together with technological advancements. Based on the assumption of Machiavellian Intelligence, we have modelled our analyses by way of concepts such as Arms Race, | Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Series No 2004:11 ISSN 1650-2140 ISBN 91-7295-051-X Exploring Privacy Risks in Information Networks Andreas Jacobsson Department of Interaction and System Design School of Engineering Blekinge Institute of Technology Sweden Blekinge Institute of Technology Licentiate Series No. 2004:11 ISSN 1650-2140 ISBN 91-7295-051-X Published by Blekinge Institute of Technology © 2004 Andreas Jacobsson Cover picture “Son of Man” (1964) by René Magritte © With permission from “BUS - Bildkonst Upphovsrätt i Sverige” Printed in Sweden Kaserntryckeriet, Karlskrona 2004 To Jess This thesis is submitted to the Faculty of Technology at Blekinge Institute of Technology, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Licentiate of Technology in Computer Science. Contact Information Andreas Jacobsson Department of Interaction and System Design School of Engineering Blekinge Institute of Technology PO Box 520 SE-372 25 Ronneby SWEDEN E-mail: Abstract Exploring privacy risks in information networks is analysing the dangers and hazards that are related to personal information about users of a network. It is about investigating the dynamics and complexities of a setting where humans are served by technology in order to exploit the network for their own good. In the information network, malicious activities are motivated by commercial factors in that the attacks to privacy are happening, not in the name of national security, but in the name of the free market together with technological advancements. Based on the assumption of Machiavellian Intelligence, we have modelled our analyses by way of concepts such as Arms Race, Tragedy of the Commons, and the Red Queen effect. In a number of experiments on spam, adware, and spyware, we have found that they match the characteristics of privacy-invasive software, ., software that ignores users’ right to decide what, how and when information about themselves is .
