US 11,949,679 B1
Distinguishing between functional tracking domains and nonfunctional tracking domains on a host web page
Iskander Sanchez Rola, Antibes (FR); Johann Roturier, Maynooth (IE); David Luz Silva, Dublin (IE); Leylya Yumer, Antibes (FR); Daniel Marino, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Petros Efstathopoulos, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to GEN DIGITAL INC., Tempe, AZ (US)
Filed by NortonLifeLock Inc., Tempe, AZ (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/398,749.
Int. Cl. H04L 9/40 (2022.01); G06F 40/14 (2020.01)
CPC H04L 63/10 (2013.01) [G06F 40/14 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method for distinguishing between functional tracking domains and nonfunctional tracking domains on a host web page, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising one or more processors, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a list of known tracking domains that load content into host web pages, the list of tracking domains including tracking domains that are functional and tracking domains that are nonfunctional;
determining which tracking domains on the list are functional, wherein a tracking domain is determined to be functional if at least one of conditions (a)-(f) is true:
(a) the tracking domain makes at least 15 requests on at least 50% of host web pages that include content loaded from the tracking domain,
(b) the tracking domain hosts at least 10 different scripts on host web pages that include content loaded from the tracking domain,
(c) the tracking domain belongs to a domain category that is known to provide web page functionality,
(d) a uniform resource locater (URL) of the tracking domain includes words that imply storage of data or hosting capabilities,
(e) the tracking domain is listed as essential in at least 50% of host web pages that identify essential domains and that include content loaded from the tracking domain, or
(f) the tracking domain is contacted by a widget to provide an on-screen tool to the host web page,
classifying each tracking domain determined to be functional as a functional tracking domain;
classifying each tracking domain not determined to be functional as a nonfunctional tracking domain; and
allowing the functional tracking domains to load content into the host web pages and blocking the nonfunctional tracking domains from loading content into the host web pages.