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A Methodological Assessment of Location Privacy Risks in Wireless Hotspot Networks

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Security in Pervasive Computing

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 2802))

Abstract

Mobile computing enables users to compute and communicate almost regardless of their current location. However, as a side effect this technology considerably increased surveillance potential for user movements. Current research addresses location privacy rather patchwork-like than comprehensively. Thus, this paper presents a methodology for identifying, assessing, and comparing location privacy risks in mobile computing technologies. In a case study, we apply the approach to IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN networks and location-based services, where it reveals significant location privacy concerns through link- and application-layer information. From a technological perspective, we argue that these are best addressed through novel anonymity-based mechanisms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    Marco Gruteser & Dirk Grunwald

Authors
  1. Marco Gruteser
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  2. Dirk Grunwald
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. DFKI, Stuhlsatzenhausweg 3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany

    Dieter Hutter

  2. Institute of Computer Science and Social Studies, Department of Telematics, Albert-Ludwig University Freiburg, Germany

    Günter Müller

  3. German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, DFKI GmbH,  

    Werner Stephan

  4. Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Godesberger Allee 185-189, 53175, Bonn, Germany

    Markus Ullmann

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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gruteser, M., Grunwald, D. (2004). A Methodological Assessment of Location Privacy Risks in Wireless Hotspot Networks. In: Hutter, D., Müller, G., Stephan, W., Ullmann, M. (eds) Security in Pervasive Computing. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 2802. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39881-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-39881-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20887-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39881-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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