Exploring Location Privacy through Mobile Crowd

Abstract

Location based services (LBS) are widespread in use. Users are more prone to privacy risks when querying the untrusted LBS server. To protect the personal location data:  mobile crowd approach is proposed. In this approach if any user initially requests for any service from the LBS server, response from the same is provided. Between the users and the LBS server TTP (Trusted Third Party) Proxy Server is placed. Proxy Server has an in-built cache which helps in preserving the location privacy of other users in the crowd. When the other users try to access the same service queried by the previous user, response is provided by the Proxy Server without having to contact the LBS server. Hence the location privacy of other user is not revealed by avoiding contact with the LBS server.