Linking virtual and real-world identities

Yaqoub Alsarkal; Nan Zhang; Yilu Zhou

doi:10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

Linking virtual and real-world identities

Yaqoub Alsarkal, Nan Zhang, Yilu Zhou

College of Information Sciences and Technology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Today, one can find from the web vast amount of information about an individual. Specifically, such information can be classified into two categories, virtual and real-world identities. This paper addresses a novel problem of linking these two types of identities based on information publicly available on the web. We start by studying how one can link virtual identities (i.e., user profiles) at Twitter with real-world identities at Whitepages.com (containing personal information such as name, age, relatives, etc.). We demonstrate that a substantial portion (at least 0.17%) of Twitter users in the U.S. can indeed be potentially linked to their real-world identities through information available at Whitepages.com, revealing sensitive personal data. We discuss the implications of such identity linkages on both individual privacy and law enforcement, and also point out the future studies required in this topic.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics
Subtitle of host publication	Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015
Editors	Lina Zhou, G. Alan Wang, Wenji Mao, Lisa Kaati
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	49-54
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9781479998883
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938
State	Published - Jul 23 2015
Event	13th IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics, ISI 2015 - Baltimore, United States Duration: May 27 2015 → May 29 2015

Publication series

Name	2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015

Other

Other	13th IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics, ISI 2015
Country/Territory	United States
City	Baltimore
Period	5/27/15 → 5/29/15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Artificial Intelligence
Law
Computer Networks and Communications
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Access to Document

10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

Cite this

Alsarkal, Y., Zhang, N., & Zhou, Y. (2015). Linking virtual and real-world identities. In L. Zhou, G. A. Wang, W. Mao, & L. Kaati (Eds.), 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015 (pp. 49-54). Article 7165938 (2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

Alsarkal, Yaqoub ; Zhang, Nan ; Zhou, Yilu. / Linking virtual and real-world identities. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015. editor / Lina Zhou ; G. Alan Wang ; Wenji Mao ; Lisa Kaati. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. pp. 49-54 (2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015).

@inproceedings{29689b5983c64d74b095ce94837f0c93,

title = "Linking virtual and real-world identities",

abstract = "Today, one can find from the web vast amount of information about an individual. Specifically, such information can be classified into two categories, virtual and real-world identities. This paper addresses a novel problem of linking these two types of identities based on information publicly available on the web. We start by studying how one can link virtual identities (i.e., user profiles) at Twitter with real-world identities at Whitepages.com (containing personal information such as name, age, relatives, etc.). We demonstrate that a substantial portion (at least 0.17%) of Twitter users in the U.S. can indeed be potentially linked to their real-world identities through information available at Whitepages.com, revealing sensitive personal data. We discuss the implications of such identity linkages on both individual privacy and law enforcement, and also point out the future studies required in this topic.",

author = "Yaqoub Alsarkal and Nan Zhang and Yilu Zhou",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 IEEE.; 13th IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics, ISI 2015 ; Conference date: 27-05-2015 Through 29-05-2015",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938",

language = "English (US)",

series = "2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

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Alsarkal, Y, Zhang, N & Zhou, Y 2015, Linking virtual and real-world identities. in L Zhou, GA Wang, W Mao & L Kaati (eds), 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015., 7165938, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 49-54, 13th IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics, ISI 2015, Baltimore, United States, 5/27/15. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

Linking virtual and real-world identities. / Alsarkal, Yaqoub; Zhang, Nan; Zhou, Yilu.
2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015. ed. / Lina Zhou; G. Alan Wang; Wenji Mao; Lisa Kaati. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2015. p. 49-54 7165938 (2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Linking virtual and real-world identities

AU - Alsarkal, Yaqoub

AU - Zhang, Nan

AU - Zhou, Yilu

PY - 2015/7/23

Y1 - 2015/7/23

N2 - Today, one can find from the web vast amount of information about an individual. Specifically, such information can be classified into two categories, virtual and real-world identities. This paper addresses a novel problem of linking these two types of identities based on information publicly available on the web. We start by studying how one can link virtual identities (i.e., user profiles) at Twitter with real-world identities at Whitepages.com (containing personal information such as name, age, relatives, etc.). We demonstrate that a substantial portion (at least 0.17%) of Twitter users in the U.S. can indeed be potentially linked to their real-world identities through information available at Whitepages.com, revealing sensitive personal data. We discuss the implications of such identity linkages on both individual privacy and law enforcement, and also point out the future studies required in this topic.

AB - Today, one can find from the web vast amount of information about an individual. Specifically, such information can be classified into two categories, virtual and real-world identities. This paper addresses a novel problem of linking these two types of identities based on information publicly available on the web. We start by studying how one can link virtual identities (i.e., user profiles) at Twitter with real-world identities at Whitepages.com (containing personal information such as name, age, relatives, etc.). We demonstrate that a substantial portion (at least 0.17%) of Twitter users in the U.S. can indeed be potentially linked to their real-world identities through information available at Whitepages.com, revealing sensitive personal data. We discuss the implications of such identity linkages on both individual privacy and law enforcement, and also point out the future studies required in this topic.

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DO - 10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

M3 - Conference contribution

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T3 - 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015

SP - 49

EP - 54

BT - 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics

A2 - Zhou, Lina

A2 - Wang, G. Alan

A2 - Mao, Wenji

A2 - Kaati, Lisa

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 13th IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics, ISI 2015

Y2 - 27 May 2015 through 29 May 2015

ER -

Alsarkal Y, Zhang N, Zhou Y. Linking virtual and real-world identities. In Zhou L, Wang GA, Mao W, Kaati L, editors, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2015. p. 49-54. 7165938. (2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics: Securing the World through an Alignment of Technology, Intelligence, Humans and Organizations, ISI 2015). doi: 10.1109/ISI.2015.7165938

Linking virtual and real-world identities

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