Stealing Reality

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of 'Stealing Reality,' a malware threat targeting social network data, highlighting its unique dangers and discussing initial analysis and defense strategies.

Contribution

It defines 'Stealing Reality' as a novel form of attack distinct from traditional network attacks and explores its potential forms and implications.

Findings

Initial analysis of SR attack forms

Discussion on detection and defense strategies

Highlighting the increased danger of SR attacks

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the threat of malware targeted at extracting information about the relationships in a real-world social network as well as characteristic information about the individuals in the network, which we dub Stealing Reality. We present Stealing Reality, explain why it differs from traditional types of network attacks, and discuss why its impact is significantly more dangerous than that of other attacks. We also present our initial analysis and results regarding the form that an SR attack might take, with the goal of promoting the discussion of defending against such an attack, or even just detecting the fact that one has already occurred.