From 64c685151e46e56ad13a94e14e36e7ff04abcfc5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tobias Eidelpes Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 16:31:51 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Add conclusion --- conclusion.tex | 40 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ defences.tex => defenses.tex | 0 thesis.tex | 13 ++---------- 3 files changed, 42 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-) rename defences.tex => defenses.tex (100%) diff --git a/conclusion.tex b/conclusion.tex index e69de29..43910e6 100644 --- a/conclusion.tex +++ b/conclusion.tex @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +\chapter{Conclusion} +\label{chap:conclusion} + +Web tracking is an increasing concern of individual users trying to protect +their privacy. They see themselves fighting against a conglomerate of tracking +companies that seek to sell big amounts of personal user data. Once harmless and +well-intentioned mechanisms such as \gls{HTTP} cookies have been repurposed over +time to serve the interests of those companies, often times at the expense of +individual users. Legitimate uses of tracking on the Internet such as for +personalizing search results or offering adequate recommendations for shopping +and entertainment have brought with themselves a myriad of other possibilities +to use user data. Since opting-out of the collection of \gls{PII} is usually not +possible, tools to combat privacy invasion via tracking have been and are still +developed. These tools offer users a chance to protect themselves to a degree +which they seem fit as long as they possess the knowledge to do so. + +This thesis serves as an introduction to tracking on the Internet. Various forms +of online tracking have been discussed and their functionality explained. For +every method its occurrence on the Web has been quantified, giving users an +overview of which methods are more widespread and which less. Furthermore, +an objective evaluation of each method with respect to the impact on users' +privacy is given, allowing users to make a well-founded threat assessment for +their individual use case and preference. + +In chapter~\ref{chap:defenses against tracking}, users are given the tools to +defend themselves against the previously discussed tracking methods. The +advantages and disadvantages of each tool are presented and common +misconceptions are dealt with. Additionally, it becomes clear that users have to +make tradeoffs between privacy and ease of use, where more privacy often results +in not being able to visit certain sites (for example when disabling +JavaScript). + +The arms race between tracking and advertising companies and users will continue +for the foreseeable future. For individuals achieving full protection against +any and all trackers is practically impossible even today. This will continue +further as long as consumers give their privacy away for supposedly \emph{free} +services and governments do not impose severe penalties on privacy violations +not only on paper but by following through on them. Until then, only +knowledgeable users will be able to defend themselves and it will get harder +with every passing year. diff --git a/defences.tex b/defenses.tex similarity index 100% rename from defences.tex rename to defenses.tex diff --git a/thesis.tex b/thesis.tex index 5cba40d..6fd1ee8 100644 --- a/thesis.tex +++ b/thesis.tex @@ -90,10 +90,6 @@ \addinsotitlepage{naustrian} \addstatementpage -\begin{acknowledgements*} -\todo{Enter your text here.} -\end{acknowledgements*} - \begin{kurzfassung} \todo{Ihr Text hier.} \end{kurzfassung} @@ -117,11 +113,8 @@ % Include methods.tex \input{methods.tex} -% Include defences.tex -\input{defences.tex} - -% Include developments -\input{developments.tex} +% Include defenses.tex +\input{defenses.tex} % Include conclusion \input{conclusion.tex} @@ -139,8 +132,6 @@ \listoftables % Starred version, i.e., \listoftables*, removes the toc entry. % Use an optional list of alogrithms. -\listofalgorithms -\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{List of Algorithms} % Add an index. \printindex