SECRET INTEREST GROUPS IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS
Described herein are methods and systems for creating a framework that allows the creation of Secret Interest Groups (SIGs) in Online Social Networks. SIGs are self-managed groups formed outside of the social network, around secret, sensitive, or private topics. A set of cryptographic algorithms are used for the framework implementation.
1 . A computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
receiving a friendship request from a first online social network (OSN) user to a second OSN user;
capturing the friendship request;
extracting cryptographic information of the first and the second user to be used for computation of a cryptographic handshake to verify the membership of the first and the second user in a same secret interest group (SIG);
creating a modified request from the friendship request through notifying the second user that the first user is a member of the same SIG as the second user when the cryptographic handshake is accomplished;
forwarding the modified request to an OSN server;
receiving a response to the modified request to the second user via the OSN server; and
sending a message to the first user affirming the co-membership of the second user when the second user has accepted the modified request.
2 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the cryptographic information of the first and the second user is extracted from an “about me” section of the user's OSN profiles.
3 . The medium of claim 1 , wherein the cryptographic information of the first and the second user is issued by a central entity as a credential.
4 . The medium of claim 3 , wherein the credential is a signature and the cryptographic handshake is performed by using oblivious signature based envelopes.
5 . The medium of claim 3 , wherein the central entity comprises a minimum number of entitled users acting in cooperation.
6 . The medium of claim 3 , wherein the central entity issues the credential after verifying the member's compliance with the secret interest group's joining policy.
7 . The medium of claim 3 , wherein a revocation is set for the credential.
8 . A computer implemented method for verification of personalities in online social networks, comprising:
receiving a friendship request from a first online social network (OSN) user to a second OSN user;
capturing the friendship request;
extracting cryptographic information of the first and the second user to be used for computation of a cryptographic handshake to verify the membership of the first and the second user in a same secret interest group (SIG);
creating a modified request from the friendship request through notifying the second user that the first user is a member of the same SIG as the second user when the cryptographic handshake is accomplished;
forwarding the modified request to an OSN server;
receiving a response to the modified request to the second user via the OSN server; and
sending a message to the first user affirming the co-membership of the second user when the second user has accepted the modified request.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cryptographic information of the first and the second user is extracted from an “about me” section of the user's OSN profiles.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the cryptographic information of the first and the second user is issued by a central entity as a credential.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the credential is a signature and the cryptographic handshake is performed by using oblivious signature based envelopes.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the central entity comprises a minimum number of entitled users acting in cooperation.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the central entity issues the credential after verifying the member's compliance with the secret interest group's join policy.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a revocation is set for the credential.
15 . A computer system for verification of personalities in online social networks, comprising:
one or more OSN servers within an OSN;
at least two OSN users communicating via the OSN;
a proxy server in communication with the one or more OSN servers, the proxy server having a processor in communication with a memory comprising instructions to be executed by the processor for modifying a friendship request between the at least two OSN users by computing a cryptographic handshake to verify the membership of the at least two OSN users to a same secret interest group (SIG).
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the cryptographic handshake is computed by extracting cryptographic information for the at least two OSN users from their OSN profiles.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the cryptographic information is issued by a central entity as a credential for a specific SIG membership.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the credential is a signature and the cryptographic handshake is performed by using oblivious signature based envelopes.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein a revocation is set for the credential.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the proxy server is a java http proxy server.