11 papers
Tracking Conversations: Measuring Content and Identity Exposure on AI Chatbots
Muhammad Jazlan, Ethan Wang, Yash Vekaria +1
AI chatbots are becoming a primary interface for seeking information. As their popularity grows, chatbot providers are starting to deploy advertising and analytics. Despite this, t…
FP-Agent: Fingerprinting AI Browsing Agents
Ethan Wang, Zubair Shafiq, Yash Vekaria
AI browsing agents are an emerging class of AI-powered bots capable of autonomously navigating websites. Unlike traditional web bots, AI browsing agents typically operate using rea…
SST-Guard: Detecting and Characterizing Server-Side Google Analytics in the Wild
Muhammad Jazlan, Alexander Gamero-Garrido, Zubair Shafiq +1
As web browsers increasingly restrict client-side tracking, the web tracking ecosystem is shifting from client-side to server-side tracking (SST). In SST, the browser sends trackin…
Understanding Data Collection, Brokerage, and Spam in the Lead Marketing Ecosystem
Yash Vekaria, Nurullah Demir, Konrad Kollnig +1
The lead marketing ecosystem enables collection, sale, and use of personal data submitted via web forms to deliver personalized quotes in high-value verticals such as insurance. De…
PixelConfig: Longitudinal Measurement and Reverse-Engineering of Meta Pixel Configurations
Abdullah Ghani, Yash Vekaria, Zubair Shafiq
Tracking pixels are used to optimize online ad campaigns through personalization, re-targeting, and conversion tracking. Past research has primarily focused on detecting the preval…
Turning Trust to Transactions: Tracking Affiliate Marketing and FTC Compliance in YouTube's Influencer Economy
Chen Sun, Yash Vekaria, Zubair Shafiq +1
YouTube has evolved into a powerful platform where creators monetize their influence through affiliate marketing, raising concerns about transparency and ethics, especially when cr…