AOL Research Labs decided it would be an excellent idea to release the search logs of a bunch of their users for the academic community to analyse. Because they care about their customers, they replaced the UserIDs in the logs with a series of numbers. This, in AOL's mind, makes them totally unidentifiable. Each log entry contains (in order) this user number, the search term, the date, the number of links they skipped to find what they wanted, and finally, the domain of the link they clicked.
This is such a monumental privacy breach that I can't believe they thought nobody would abuse it, even for a second. The news have begun to pick up on it here and here. A disturbing number of people have searched for specific enough items (their own name, credit card number or address) that they can be identified from search records alone. Hell, if somebody visited this site I could use the database along with statcounter to find out an awful lot of personal detail.
AOL quickly removed the datafile (2Gb of text files), but not before some of us got a copy and fired up
The world's rarest medical condition is probably something like space-flu. You know, something that doesn't exist. Maybe eye-arthritis ranks up there though, I've never really given it any thought before.
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius:
This guy is a) A raging alcoholic b) seems to think the internet can help him decide whether to put windmills on his land and c) mental.
This guy loses.
If I had a monocle it would just have popped out of my eye
1296531 lives a drama-filled life.
24529313 is scared that his wife is going to use the computer
The amount of porn and bestiality people search for is absolutely shocking, and I found plenty of things that I'm not even going to repeat on this blog.
After writing this post I noticed that somebody has automated the whole process at http://www.aolstalker.com. Have fun!
Oh... this guy really likes underwear. I don't know where to stop, this database is like an unlimited supply of comedy gold.
This is such a monumental privacy breach that I can't believe they thought nobody would abuse it, even for a second. The news have begun to pick up on it here and here. A disturbing number of people have searched for specific enough items (their own name, credit card number or address) that they can be identified from search records alone. Hell, if somebody visited this site I could use the database along with statcounter to find out an awful lot of personal detail.
AOL quickly removed the datafile (2Gb of text files), but not before some of us got a copy and fired up
grep and awk. Here are some of the funniest/most depressing/most disturbing that we have found.User 2961271
2961271 arthritis of the eyes
2961271 rarest medical condition
2961271 world's rarest medical condition
2961271 world's rarest diseaseThe world's rarest medical condition is probably something like space-flu. You know, something that doesn't exist. Maybe eye-arthritis ranks up there though, I've never really given it any thought before.
User 2830237
A heartbreaking work of staggering genius:
2830237 where did i put my antique wrenches
2830237 how can you help a slouchy slured speach' staggering drunk
2830237 staggering ass drunk
2830237 where would you find articles on getting gang banged
2830237 what can you do when a selfish alcoholic is tearing your family apart
2830237 where can you find out what a 2 dollar bill is now worth
2830237 how can you help when your brother is a dumb drunk
2830237 how do you stop a drunk that is drinking himself to death
2830237 alcoholic is just another word for stupid
2830237 i am a superior drunk
2830237 alcoholism is a thinking problem for idiots
2830237 i'm drunk therfor i feel superior
2830237 where is that stupid hay truck
2830237 what is wrong with a dogs back when it can't control it's back legs
2830237 how do you cope when your dog has to be put to sleep
2830237 should i put up windmills on my land
2830237 getting busted in pennsylvania for drunk driving
2830237 where would you find which u s presidents will be part of the new world order
2830237 where would you find out if the masons are controlling our weather This guy is a) A raging alcoholic b) seems to think the internet can help him decide whether to put windmills on his land and c) mental.
User 6949267
6949267 real pictures of the actual jesus crist the massiaThis guy loses.
User 8401127
8401127 i chew on balloons
8401127 adult chewing on balloons
8401127 why do i chew on balloons
8401127 i crave the taste of ballons
8401127 what are ballons made of
8401127 why do i crave the taste of latexIf I had a monocle it would just have popped out of my eye
User 1296531
1296531 lives a drama-filled life.
1296531 what does herpies look like
1296531 cat bleeding from mouth
1296531 feline leukemia
1296531 can a cat with feline leukemia test negative and still be positive
1296531 is it normal to have no sexual drive 5 months after son's birth
1296531 sores and itching up your nose
1296531 can you get herpes in your nose
1296531 what gets rid of jowls
1296531 does liposuction get rid of jowls
1296531 if girlfriend was on birth control and tricked me am i responsible for pregnancy
1296531 should i have my 6 month old son undergo surgery to correct messed up circumcision User 24529313
24529313 is scared that his wife is going to use the computer
24529313 how do i cancel saved history
24529313 show me how to erase my site history
24529313 help me to change my password
24529313 help me to change my password
24529313 change my password
24529313 delete cookies
24529313 my history my last 300 sites
24529313 help me delete my history my last 300 sites
24529313 aol show me how to clear my history
24529313 aol show me how to clear my history
24529313 please delete my internet history
24529313 earse history The amount of porn and bestiality people search for is absolutely shocking, and I found plenty of things that I'm not even going to repeat on this blog.
After writing this post I noticed that somebody has automated the whole process at http://www.aolstalker.com. Have fun!
Oh... this guy really likes underwear. I don't know where to stop, this database is like an unlimited supply of comedy gold.
