Data masking

Abstract: Computer based systems, methods, software and databases are presented in which correlations between web item preferences, behaviors and pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) attributes of individuals are used for pangenetic based user behavior prediction in which predictions of a user's online behavior can be generated based on the user's pangenetic makeup. Data masking can be used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.

Abstract: An obfuscated network traffic server is operative to generate obfuscated network traffic. The obfuscated network traffic server maintains the relationship between extracted application content and extracted network header content such that the obfuscated network traffic is indistinguishable from the monitored network traffic. The obfuscated network traffic server may include a network monitor operative to monitor network traffic and to extract application content and network header content from the monitored network traffic. The obfuscated network traffic server may also include a data masking processor operative to mask a portion of the separated application content and/or the separated network header content. The obfuscated network traffic server may further include a masking attribute selector operative to specify the attributes of the application content and/or the network header content that is to be masked.

Abstract: This study discusses a new procedure for masking confidential numerical dataa procedure called data shufflingin which the values of the confidential variables are shuffled among observations. The shuffled data provides a high level of data utility and minimizes the risk of disclosure. From a practical perspective, data shuffling overcomes reservations about using perturbed or modified confidential data because it retains all the desirable properties of perturbation methods and performs better than other masking techniques in both data utility and disclosure risk. In addition, data shuffling can be implemented using only rank-order data, and thus provides a nonparametric method for masking. We illustrate the applicability of data shuffling for small and large data sets.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for representing a data set by selecting a data transformation function and a data masking function. The compressor (10) includes a receiver (12) for receiving data elements of a data set to be represented, a data function generator (14) for generating a data transformation function and attractor, a data mask generator (16) for generating a data masking function, a transform data memory (18) for storing transformed data, and a comparator (20). Data transform function generator (14) selects a data transformation function and uses the data masking function provided by mask generator (16) to generate an attractor. Comparator (20) compares the attractor in memory (18) to the data set in receiver (12) to determine whether the data transformation and masking functions accurately represent the data set in receiver (12). Preferably, the data set transformation and data masking functions are used to generate an attractor that more accurately represents the data set than an attractor generated by the data transformation function alone. The data masking function is a set of exclusionary data elements which are used to terminate data transformations for data elements which generate the attractor. Preferably, the data masking function is defined as a polygon for a two-dimensional space. When the data masking function is incorporated with the data transformation function, the attractor normally produced by the data set transformation function is contained to more accurately represent the data set. The data masking function may be used with any data transformation function including those comprised of complex, projective, affine maps, fractal transform, or fractal transform error function transformations. Deterministic and random iterative methods may be used to generate the constrained attractor that represents the data set to be represented.