A Preliminary Study on the Privacy Concerns of Using IP Addresses in Log Data
Issam Sedki · 2024
Log data, crucial for system monitoring and debugging, inherently contains information that may conflict with privacy safeguards. This study addresses the delicate interplay between log utility and the protection of sensitive data, with a focus on how IP addresses are recorded. We scrutinize the logging practices against the privacy policies of Linux, OpenSSH, and MacOS, uncovering discrepancies that hint at broader privacy concerns. Our methodology, anchored in privacy benchmarks like GDPR, evaluates both open-source and commercial systems, revealing that the former may lack rigorous privacy controls. The research finds that the actual logging of IP addresses often deviates from policy statements, especially in open-source systems. By systematically contrasting stated policies with practical application, our study identifies privacy risks and advocates for policy reform. We call for improved privacy governance in open-source software and a reformation of privacy policies to ensure they reflect actual practices, enhancing transparency and data protection within log management.