3 citations · 5 across the 13 of their papers we have counts for
11 papers · 1 filter
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…
Keys on Doormats: Exposed API Credentials on the Web
Nurullah Demir, Yash Vekaria, Georgios Smaragdakis +1
API (Application Programming Interface) keys allow applications to authenticate themselves to third-party services. Inadvertent public exposure of these credentials can pose signif…
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…
On the Suitability of LLM-Driven Agents for Dark Pattern Audits
Chen Sun, Yash Vekaria, Rishab Nithyanand
As LLM-driven agents begin to autonomously navigate the web, their ability to interpret and respond to manipulative interface design becomes critical. A fundamental question that e…
SoK: Advances and Open Problems in Web Tracking
Yash Vekaria, Yohan Beugin, Shaoor Munir +11
Web tracking is a pervasive and opaque practice that enables personalized advertising, retargeting, and conversion tracking. Over time, it has evolved into a sophisticated and inva…
Watching TV with the Second-Party: A First Look at Automatic Content Recognition Tracking in Smart TVs
Gianluca Anselmi, Yash Vekaria, Alexander D'Souza +3
Smart TVs implement a unique tracking approach called Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to profile viewing activity of their users. ACR is a Shazam-like technology that works by…
Towards Multi-Stakeholder Vulnerability Notifications in the Ad-Tech Supply Chain
Yash Vekaria, Rishab Nithyanand, Zubair Shafiq
Online advertising relies on a complex and opaque supply chain that involves multiple stakeholders, including advertisers, publishers, and ad-networks, each with distinct and somet…
The Inventory is Dark and Full of Misinformation: Understanding the Abuse of Ad Inventory Pooling in the Ad-Tech Supply Chain
Yash Vekaria, Rishab Nithyanand, Zubair Shafiq
Ad-tech enables publishers to programmatically sell their ad inventory to millions of demand partners through a complex supply chain. Bogus or low quality publishers can exploit th…