Dottorato in INFORMATICA

Titolo della tesi: In pursuit of deception: a journey through fake channels, conspiracies, wash trading, and stealth addresses

The rapid technological advancements and the widespread use of online platforms have profoundly changed the digital world, reshaping human interactions, information dissemination, and user engagement. As users navigate the intricate web of online platforms, the prevalence of deceptive practices emerges as a critical and pervasive theme. Nowadays, the range of deceptive techniques has broadened, encompassing many strategies to manipulate, misinform, or exploit users. This wide-ranging influence infiltrates various aspects of online interactions, profoundly shaping the dissemination and reception of information. Digital platforms have become breeding grounds for misinformation campaigns, where false or misleading information is purposely spread to influence opinions, sow discord, or achieve particular agendas. Whether it is the deliberate spread of fake news articles on social media or the creation of deepfake videos to fabricate events, misinformation leverages the interconnectedness of digital platforms to deceive unsuspecting users. The 2016 US presidential election, marked by misinformation circulating on social media, clearly illustrates the impact of false stories, manipulated images, and misleading narratives in influencing voters. Deceptive practices extend into social engineering, where attackers manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information or undertaking actions compromising their privacy or security. In 2020, a widespread phishing campaign capitalized on the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraging emails impersonating health organizations to deceive recipients into clicking on malicious links or disclosing personal information. Creating fictitious personas and forging online identities is a commonly utilized deceptive strategy, serving diverse objectives with nefarious intent. The proliferation of fake social media accounts to manipulate public opinion challenges the authenticity and reliability of digital interactions. An example is the "Sockpuppet" scandal on Wikipedia, which revealed that certain editors created multiple fake accounts to manipulate content and sway discussions to push specific narratives and biased articles. The prevalence of these deceptive practices underscores the need to comprehend, analyze, and fight digital deception within the diverse contexts of online platforms. This thesis aims to reveal the complexities of these deceptive schemes, shedding light on these activities, and contributing to a nuanced understanding of the challenges posed by deceptive practices in the digital domain.