The Internet Census 2012 Dataset: An Ethical Examination
📜 Abstract
In 2012, an anonymous researcher released a dataset outlining the results of a rogue internet census taken between March and December of 2012. This data was collected using unsecured devices discovered using the same probing mechanisms used by the infamous Carna Botnet, which operated using default telnet passwords and targeted over 420,000 devices (many of which were consumer routers). The author provides an analysis of the situation, beginning with a look at the data itself, and moves on to a discussion of ethical issues involved with both the collection of such data and its potential use.
✨ Summary
The paper “The Internet Census 2012 Dataset: An Ethical Examination” provides a critical analysis of the dataset released from an unauthorized internet census conducted by an anonymous researcher. The research evaluates the ethical implications of collecting and using data obtained from unsecured devices, emphasizing the significance of security research practices and privacy concerns. The work does not appear to extensively influence other research or industry practices, as few if any direct citations or impacts were found during a literature search. This could be attributed to the focus on ethical debates, which may not directly lead to further technical developments, yet it highlights essential discussions surrounding network security and privacy ethics. No significant citations were found related to further research stemming from this paper.