A Proxy-Based Encrypted Online Social Network With Fine-Grained Access
This addresses privacy and access control issues for users of online social networks, though it appears incremental as it builds on existing encryption and proxy-based methods.
The paper tackles the problem of users being unable to control which social groups see specific information in online social networks, by proposing an approach that allows fine-grained access control for every bit of information and encrypted sharing within protected circles, with keys distributed by proxies.
When using Online Social Networks, users often share information with different social groups. When considering the backgrounds of the groups there is often no or little intersection within the members. This means that a user who shares information often has to share it with all members of all groups. It can be problematic that the user cannot decide which group sees which information. Our approach therefore, allows users to decide for every bit of information who can access it. Further, protected circles can be created, where users can share information within. Shared information and circles are encrypted and the keys can be distributed by proxies.