CS Prof Zubair Shafiq receives 2016 Data Transparency Lab grant

Friday, June 17, 2016

Zubair Shafiq
Zubair Shafiq

University of Iowa Professor Zubair Shafiq has won a research grant from the Data Transparency Lab. The proposal, by Shafiq and University of California-Riverside Professor Zhiyun Qian, is titled, "Detected and Circumvention of Ad-Block Detectors: A New Arms Race on the Web." The proposal was one of six accepted out of 54 submissions.

From the proposal:

"In this proposal, we plan to undertake two major research tasks: First, we will perform a systematic measurement and analysis of the ad-block detection phenomenon on the web. This involves understanding how many websites are performing ad-block detection; and what type of technical approaches are used. Second, from the gained understanding, we aim to design and implement new mechanisms, representing the next step in the arms race, in the form of a stealthy or invisible ad-blocker to counter or circumvent ad-block detection. All of the produced data and software will be shared publicly."

Shafiq is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

http://datatransparencylab.org/grantees2016.html

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.