Presentation:
Encrypted Network Traffic Analysis and Protection
SPEAKR
David Hasselquist
Research Manager
Abstract:
The widespread adoption of encrypted communication protocols has improved digital privacy. However, even if the content is encrypted, an attacker can exploit metadata and network traffic patterns to infer a user’s activity and behavior. This presentation explores traffic analysis, focusing on fingerprinting attacks that leverage observable metadata such as packet sizes, transmission timing, and traffic flow patterns to infer sensitive user information and identify user activities. By examining the real-world feasibility and high accuracy of these attacks across various platforms and use cases, the work demonstrates why common privacy tools like VPNs are insufficient to fully mitigate them.
To counteract these threats, several mitigation strategies are presented, including packet padding, timing obfuscation, and traffic shaping, each assessed for its tradeoffs between effectiveness, impact on network performance, and users’ quality of experience. As individuals and organizations increasingly depend on digital communication, these insights emphasize the urgent need for digital infrastructures that are more resilient, protecting not only communication content but also surrounding traffic patterns.
PROGRAM
- 12:00 - 12:10 > Check-in
- 12:10 - 12:50 > presentation & Lunch
- 12:50 - 13:00 > Q&A
CONTACT PERSON
Christoffer Kamronn
christoffer.kamronn@linkopingsciencepark.se
Goto 10 är en arena där individer och organisationer kan dela kunskap, idéer och perspektiv. Detta event speglar arrangörens åsikter och delas inte nödvändigtvis av oss på Goto 10 och Internetstiftelsen. På Goto 10 får idéer och kunskap testas, diskuteras och utvecklas så länge de följer våra riktlinjer.