

Homework 3 - due October 4, 2007

Please email your homework in Microsoft Word or PDF format to privacy-homework AT cups DOT cs DOT cmu DOT edu and put "hw3" in the subject line.

Don't forget to properly cite all sources (including assigned readings) and include a bibliography with all homework assignments.

Reading assignment:

1. Write a short summary of each chapter in the reading assignment (3-7 sentences each). Graduate students should also read and write a summary of one optional reading paper. After each summary (in a separate paragraph) provide a "highlight" for that chapter. This can be something new you learned that you found particularly interesting, a point you would like to discuss further in class, a question the chapter did not fully answer, something you found confusing, a point you disagree with, or anything else you found noteworthy. [30 points]

2. Find a web page (not one mentioned in the reading) that uses web bugs (list URL). What function do the web bugs appear to be performing on this site? That is, why has the site planted these bugs? Do these web bugs raise any real or perceived privacy concerns? If so, what sorts of privacy concerns do they raise? What might be done to mitigate these concerns? If you don't think these web bugs raise privacy concerns, explain why not. Does the web site do an adequate job of explaining its use of these web bugs on the page where they are used or in its privacy policy?[15 points]

3. Try out at least two P3P user agents. Use them to view privacy information for several P3P-enabled web sites. Provide a description and critique of each user agent, discussing the functionality and user interface, and suggestions for improvements. [25 points]

4. Do part 1 of the group privacy policy project. [30 points]