1. Private Browsing Mode Protection
Platform – Incognito (Chrome Version 1.0)
Private Browsing (Mozillna Version 3.5)
Private Browsing(Safari Version 2.0)
InPrivate Browsing(IE Version 8)
Features – Delete Cookies
Clear History
Clear Web Cache
Trackers are still used
Proposed Web Extension (KEEPrivate)
Platform – Chrome (Version 47.0)
Extension Cost – Free
Features – Open Private Browsing Mode
Third Party Cookie Blocks
Clear Session Cookie
Clear History
Blacklist
Notification of Trackers
Survey: User’s View of Private Mode
Survey Duration – 5 ½ Weeks
Sample Size – 45 (79% in 20-30)
Expectation – Anonymous
Untraceable
User-friendly UI
No other tools needed
Security
Simple operation
Result:
Overview
• What is Private Browsing Mode?
A privacy feature in some web browsers to disable browsing history and
the web cache. This allows a person to browse the Web without storing
local data that could be retrieved at a later date.
• Problems in Private Browsing Mode:
- it is used different from how it is marketed
- complicated operation
- users identity can be recognized
• Our Proposed Web Extension:
- easy operation
- customized blocking trackers
- customized blacklist
Methods
1. Research
• Compare and study private modes in different browsers
2. Design and Conduct Survey
• Figure out user's understanding of private browsing mod
• Survey questions: 10
3. Analysis the Mismatch
• Results of survey shows user’s understanding is different from how
private browsing mode is marketed
4. Design Web Extension UI
• Propose a web extension to solve the mismatch
• Design the UI and features of proposed web extension
5. Implement Web Extension
• Features: Blacklist, Clear history, Block trackers via cookie,
javascript
6. Conduct Experiment
• Evaluate the effect of proposed web extension : KEEPrivate
New Web Extension Aligning User Expectations of Private
Browsering Mode with Actual Protection
Xi Zheng and Lieyong Zou
Advised by: Prof. Limin Jia and Prof. Lujo Bauer
Evaluation: Third-­party Cookies vs.
JavaScript
Conclusions
Mismatch
• There is huge mismatch between users’ understanding of private
browsing mode and how it is marketed
Contribution of KEEPrivate
• Combine the benefits of Ghostery & Private Browsing Mode(Incognito)
• Benefits – Cost: Free
Security: Customize Blocking Trackers & Blacklist
Private: Clear History & Cookies
KEEPrivate Architecture
Anonymous
in Private
Browsing
Mode?
Err…..
Nor really,
you will still
be tracked!
We can can
customize
blocking
trackers!
Contrast Expectation & Protection
Description – Identity can be recognized
Security Issue
Users can be traced
Thrid party cookie exist
Privacy Issue
Need other tools
Complex operations
1 Click is Okay!
5 Steps = 21 Clicks