Personal Data Leakage Of Web-based ChatbotsTernav, Alex (Avtor) Kos, Andrej (Mentor) Diaz, Claudia (Komentor) Chat widgetsPrivacyOnline Data leakageThis thesis comprehensively analyzes the privacy implications associated with chat widgets on websites. By thoroughly investigating a diverse subset of 100,000 websites, our findings reveal that chat widgets are prevalent, appearing on 18.3\% of web pages examined. Importantly, we discovered that 5.1\% of these websites inadvertently leaked personal information, such as email addresses, to third-party entities. Furthermore, this study uncovered 20 previously undisclosed domains involved in these data leaks. These results highlight the urgent need to address the privacy risks posed by chat widgets and emphasize the importance of implementing robust data protection measures. By exposing the scale of data leakage and its wide-reaching consequences for user privacy, this research provides valuable insights to develop effective strategies for safeguarding personal information in the digital landscape. While further research is needed to investigate other aspects of chat widgets and data leaks, this study serves as an essential step towards understanding the complexity of data leakage through chat widgets. It lays a solid foundation for future studies that delve deeper into web privacy and data leakage. Through rigorous methodology and a comprehensive analysis of our findings, we underscore the urgent need for more proactive web data protection approaches. This calls for continued research to keep pace with evolving technology and digital practices. Collaboration among web developers, privacy researchers, policymakers, and users is essential to foster a safer and more privacy-conscious digital environment.20242024-04-17 10:00:01Magistrsko delo/naloga155771VisID: 62649COBISS_ID: 192842499sl