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Over the last few years, web-based attacks have caused significant harm to users. Many of these attacks occur through the exploitations of common security vulnerabilities in web-based programs. Given that, mitigation of these attacks is extremely crucial to reduce some of the harmful consequences. Web-based applications contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers at a client-side (browser) without the victim’s (browser user’s) knowledge. This thesis is intended to mitigate some exploitations due to the presence of security vulnerabilities in web applications while performing seemingly benign functionalities at the client-side. For example, visiting a webpage might result in JavaScript code execution (cross-site scripting), downloading a file might lead to the execution of JavaScript code (content sniffing), clicking on a hyperlink might result in sending unwanted legitimate requests to a trusted website (cross-site request forgery), and filling out a seemingly legitimate form may eventually lead to stealing of credential information (phishing). Existing web-based attack detection approaches suffer from several limitations such as (i) modification of both server and client-side environments, (ii) exchange of sensitive information between the server and client, and (iii) lack of detection of some attack types. This thesis addresses these limitations by mitigating four security vulnerabilities in web applications: cross-site scripting, content sniffing, cross-site request forgery, and phishing. We mitigate the exploitations of these vulnerabilities by developing automatic attack detection approaches at both server and client-sides. We develop server-side attack detection frameworks to detect attack symptoms within response pages before sending them to the client. The approaches are designed based on the assumption that the server-side program source is available for analysis, but we are not allowed to alter the program code and the runtime environments. Moreover, we develop client-side attack detection frameworks so that some level of protection is present when the source code of server websites (either trusted or untrusted) is not available. Our proposed solutions explore several techniques such as response page parsing and file content analysis, browser-level checking of requests and responses, and finite state machine-based behavior monitoring. The thesis evaluates the proposed attack detection approaches with real-world vulnerable programs. The evaluation results indicate that our approaches are effective and perform better than the related work. We also contribute to the development of benchmark suites for evaluating attack detection techniques. / Thesis (Ph.D, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2011-11-29 09:44:24.465

The aim of this study was to unify a South African model of organisational trust with the globally accepted Integrative model of organisational trust on a theoretical and empirical level. The antecedents of trust in direct supervisors represented by five personality dimensions and four managerial practices were used to extract the facets of trustworthiness of ability, benevolence and integrity to create a unified trust model. Based on literature, a methodology was developed to re-assign the various dimensions on an item level into three new scales representing the antecedents of trust. Data gathered between 1995 and 2013 in South African organisations by means of the Trust Relationship Audit was used and subject matter experts reassigned the items into the three antecedents of trust. Structural equation modelling was employed to replicate the Martins (2000) model and to test the measurement and structural regression models, arriving at a five-factor model. A unified model of trust in supervisors was fitted to the data and validated. This unified model emphasises the importance of the affective component as an antecedent of trust towards supervisors in organisations in an African context. Managerial concern, based on benevolent managerial practices and communication, was found to have the biggest impact on trust. Integrity as a personality trait was the only other component that had a positive impact on trust. Contrary to most studies, ability had a minimal or negative impact on interpersonal trust in direct superiors, but is a prerequisite for high integrity and benevolence as facets of trustworthiness. Managerial ability and, to a lesser degree, a benevolent personality are necessary but not sufficient for trust to develop. Being very agreeable and competent is not sufficient to be perceived as trustworthy; managers or supervisors also need to exhibit high levels of concern and integrity. In this study the author responds to the calls in the literature that a common terminology be used in trust research. The multitude of measures causes a situation where studies and concepts cannot be compared and therefore no basis exists upon which to build trust research. Future researchers can now with confidence apply the South African model of organisational trust within the context of a globally accepted model. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Marknadsföring idag ser inte ut som den har gjort tidigare, digitaliseringen har medfört en stor förändring och många nya möjligheter för företag och privatpersoner att marknadsföra sig. Word-of-mouth har gått från att vara mellan två eller flera personer i en konversation där exempelvis en produkt eller tjänst diskuterats. Detta har också förändrats och flera olika typer av online word-of-mouth (eWOM) har tillkommit, denna studie kommer behandla två typer av eWOM som finns, mer exakt influencers och recensioner online. Undersökningen kommer gå in på det förtroende som konsumenter har för just influencers och recensioner online och även undersöka om detta förändras om konsumenten står inför ett hög- eller lågengagemangsköp. Forskningsfrågor ställs även för att få reda på vilka faktorer som spelar in för att förtroendet för influencers och recensioner skall påverkas och om förtroendet förändras om konsumenten ställs inför ett köp av en produkt istället för en tjänst. Undersökningen sker genom en kvalitativ metod där intervjuer hålls med sex respondenter och frågor anknutna till syftet och forskningsfrågorna ställs till dem. Resultatet från dessa intervjuer visar att förtroendet för influencers inte är lika starkt som det förtroende konsumenterna har för recensioner online, däremot förklarar respondenterna att det finns faktorer som kan både öka och minska förtroendet både för recensioner och influencers. Det kan exempelvis vara så att en influencer mer många följare kan kännas mer trovärdig och att en okänd hemsida med recensioner kan tappa trovärdighet. Respondenterna har varit överens om att influencers fungerar bättre som inspiration till produkter och tjänster, däremot är det recensioner som får dem att ta beslutet när det gäller ett köp. / Marketing today doesn’t look like it has done before, the digitization has resulted in a big change and lots of new opportunities for companies and individuals to advertise. Word-of-mouth has changed from something being said about a product or service in a conversation between two or more people to also be available online. There are a lot of different types of online word-of-mouth (eWOM), and we’re going to target influencers and online reviews. The study will look into the trust for influencers and online reviews perceived by the consumers and also examine how or if the amount of trust will alter depending on if the consumer approaches a high- or low involvement purchase. The study will be of a qualitative method where interviews will be held with six respondents. The questions will be cohere to the purpose of the study and the research questions. The result from this study shows that the consumer trust for influencers isn’t as significant as the trust for online reviews, despite that several of the consumers points out that there is factors that can change the amount of trust for both influencers and online reviews. For example an influencer with a lot of followers can appear to be more trustworthy than one with less, and a not that well known website with online reviews can appear less trustworthy. The respondents have agreed that influencers work better as inspiration for products and services, although they all thought that reviews are the deciding factor to making a purchase.

Research on interpersonal trust has been poorly analyzed from the conceptualization of Latin American workers. This research aimed to understand the meaning that health officials attribute to trust in direct leadership. A descriptive-analytical design was used, as well as a phenomenological approach for the information analysis. 65 officials of a public hospital were interviewed. A total of 5 categories were obtained, from which the main two covered 81% of the dimensions. The two main categories are related to “having good communication” and “support when there are problems”. Thus, a model of dyadic trust emerges, which is constructed especially from personalized links in which the officials perceive protection, probably related to a paternalist leadership with the bosses. Findings are consistent with the Latin American organizational culture. / La investigación sobre confianza interpersonal ha sido escasamente analizada desde la conceptualización de trabajadores latinoamericanos. Esta investigación se propuso comprender el significado que funcionarios de la salud dan a confiar en la jefatura directa. Se utilizó un diseño descriptivo-analítico y el enfoque fenomenológico para el análisis de la información. Se entrevistó a 65 funcionarios de un hospital público. Se obtuvieron 5 categorías, las dos principales cubren el 81% de las menciones y están asociadas a “Tener buena comunicación” y “Que apoyen cuando hay problemas”. Así, emerge un modelo de confianza diádica que se construye especialmente de vínculos personalizados en que los funcionarios sienten recibir protección, relacionado probablemente a un liderazgo paternalista de la jefatura, coherente con la cultura organizacional latinoamericana. / La recherche sur la confiance interpersonnelle a été peu analysée depuis la conceptualisation des travailleurs latino-américains. Cette recherche a été proposée pour comprendre le sens que les responsables de la santé donnent à la confiance dans le leadership direct. Un plan descriptif-analytique et l’approche phénoménologique pour l’analyse de l’information ont été utilisés. 65 fonctionnaires d’un hôpital public ont été interrogés. Cinq catégories ont été obtenues, les deux principales couvrent 81% des mentions et sont associées à “Avoir une bonne communication” et “Soutenir en cas de problèmes”. Ainsi, émerge un modèle de confiance dyadique qui se construit notamment sur des liens personnalisés dans lesquels les responsables se sentent protégés, probablement liés à un leadership paternaliste de la direction, cohérent avec la culture organisationnelle latino-américaine. / A pesquisa sobre a confiança interpessoal tem sido pouco analisada desde a conceitualização de trabalhadores latino americanos. Nesta pesquisa a proposta foi de compreender o significado que os funcionários da área da saúde dão ao confiar nos seus chefes diretos. Foi utilizado um desenho descritivo-analítico e o enfoque fenomenológico para a análise da informação.  Foram entrevistados 65 funcionários de um hospital público. Foram obtidos 5 categorias, sendo que as duas principais cobrem um 81% do mencionado e está associado a “Ter boa comunicação” e “Que apoiem quando tenha problemas”. Assim, surge um modelo de confiança entre os dois (funcionário-chefe e chefe-funcionário) que se constrói especialmente de vínculos personalizados em que os funcionários sentem receber proteção, relacionado provavelmente a uma liderança paternalista do chefe, coerente com a cultura organizacional da América Latina.

Background: The goal for brand building is to build for the long-term profitability and strengthening of brand equity. A way to build brand equity is to implement social media marketing, where so-called influencer marketing can be used. Influencer marketing is adopted as consumers have found ways to avoid advertisements and choose who they would like to follow on social media. For this study, perceived quality and brand loyalty were found to be relevant brand equity dimensions, when studying influencers’ characteristic. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explain the relationship of influencers’ characteristics with perceived quality and brand loyalty. Methodology: This study applied an explanatory purpose with a deductive, quantitative research approach, and cross-sectional research design to test a developed conceptual model based on six hypotheses. The data collection was done through a self-administered questionnaire distributed online, which received 175 valid responses. Findings: The suggested model was found significant, where influencer’s Authenticity explained 16.5% of Perceived Quality and Trustworthiness 13% of Brand Loyalty. However, Trustworthiness and Relatability relationship with Perceived Quality, and Relatability and Authenticity relationship with Brand Loyalty were rejected. Conclusion: The thesis provides a model with the accepted hypotheses and an insight on influencers’ characteristics’ relationship with perceived quality and brand loyalty. Finally, there are implications for the research community and managers about how to utilize the findings and the contribution of these.

The use of mobile telephony has over the past years increased and consequently has the development of services over the mobile phone also increased. This semester we have taken part in a large system development project, our contributions have been designing the graphical user interfaces. In doing that we found the problem with how to mediate trust to a user through a graphical user interface interesting. In this thesis we are focusing on how to develop graphical user interfaces for a mobile phone service that radiate and infuse confidence, security and trustworthiness. In order to attain the purpose, we have used the combination of literature studies and to some extent user involvement with Mock-ups and a Think-aloud technique. We are also describing the importance of taking as well usability and usability goals as the needs for the end users into consideration. We have found that more research on how to radiate and infuse trust through a graphical user interface is needed. This thesis is concluded with some aspects on that subject that we think is important to have in mind. It is of great importance to never leave the user in a state of uncertainty and therefore is clear, sincere and informative feedback necessary throughout the service. Also central in designing graphical user interfaces is to make sure that there is no mismatch in the security of the system and the radiated security. / Användningen av mobiltelefoner har de senaste åren ökat, det har även utvecklingen av tjänsterna till mobiltelefoner. Under denna termin har vi deltagit i ett större systemutvecklingsprojekt och vår del har varit att designa det grafiska användargränssnittet. Under projektets gång har vi intresserat oss för problemet, hur tillit kan förmedlas till användaren genom det grafiska användargränssnittet. I den här rapporten fokuserar vi på hur man utvecklar grafiska användargränssnitt för en mobiltelefonservice som utstrålar och ingjuter förtroende, säkerhet och trovärdighet. För att uppnå vårt syfte har vi använt en kombination av litteraturstudier och till viss utsträckning användarmedverkan med Mock-uper och en Tänka-högt teknik. Vi beskriver även vikten av tänka på såväl använbarhet som använbarhetsmål som användarnas behov. Vi har funnit att det behövs mer forskning om hur man utstrålar och ingjuter tillit genom ett grafiskt användargränssnitt. Uppsatsen avslutas med några av våra synpunkter på vad som är viktiga att ha i åtanke. Det är av stor betydelse att aldrig låta en användare sväva i ovisshet och därför är det nödvändigt med tydlig, korrekt och informativ återkoppling genom hela tjänsten. Centralt vid design av grafiska användargränssnitt är också att förvissa sig om att det inte är någon skillnad mellan säkerheten i systemet och säkerheten som utstrålas.

Les visages fournissent à l'observateur un ensemble d'informations physiques, émotionnelles et sociales qui déterminent la manière dont les gens interagissent entre eux. Grâce aux cette informations, un humain peut se faire rapidement une première impression. La capacité de former des jugements de nature sociale est au centre de ce travail de thèse ainsi qu'à la manière dont la fiabilité d'autrui peut-être détectée spontanément à partir d'un visage. J'ai employé des techniques de suivi du mouvement oculaire, d'électrophysiologie (EEG) et comportementales. Le but de l'étude 1 visait à déterminer si la capacité d'évaluer la confiance est universelle. J'ai teste si les singes peuvent montrer une préférence spontanée envers des visages humains inspirant confiance, comme il l'a été observé chez les humains. Chez les deux espèces le temps de regard étais supérieur pour les visages inspirant confiance par rapport à ceux n'inspirant pas confiance. Un autre ensemble d'études s'intéressait au syndrome de Williams-Beuren (WS). La pathologie dont une des caractéristiques est un comportement d'appétence sociale a été utilisée comme modèle neurobiologique humain afin d'étudier la capacité à détecter les informations sociales du visage. Les patients WS sont-ils capables de détecter la confiance à partir d'un visage? Comment les patients WS se représentent un visage qui inspire confiance? J'ai observé que les patients WS regardent moins longtemps les visages qui inspirent confiance, suggérant qu'ils ont une tendance à davantage faire confiance à tout le monde. Nos résultats démontrent aussi qu'en comparaison à un groupe sain, ils ne présentent pas une image stéréotypique d'un visage qui inspire confiance. Dans une dernière étude, j'ai cherché à savoir si les sources neuronales éléctrophysiologiques, en particulier dans les régions du sulcus temporal supérieur (240ms), pouvaient expliquer leur comportement. J'ai observé que l'activité de la source était modulée de manière significative par rapport à la proximité des yeux, comme dans le groupe control. Les résultats suggèrent la présence d'une voie rapide dans le cerveau qui joue le rôle fondamental de moduler les comportements d'approche et d'évitement et que cette voie peut être altérée chez des patients caractérisés par un comportement d'appétence sociale / Faces provide a complex set of physical, emotional and social information to the observer that determines how people will interact with others. From facial information, human subjects can form rapid, first impression judgments. The ability to create social judgments from faces is the core topic of this work. This thesis will focus on how social information and trust is spontaneously detected from faces. In my studies I used eye tracking procedure, electrophysiology (EEG) and behavioral measures. In a first experiment, I investigated the evolutionary origin of trustworthiness detection testing whether monkeys (Macaca Mulatta and Fascicularis) have a spontaneous preference towards trustworthy human faces, thus suggesting a capacity to detect facial cues similar to those used by humans. Using a preference visual paradigm we observed that both species spent more time looking at trustworthy faces than untrustworthy ones. I further conducted three studies with patients affected by Williams-Beuren syndrome (WS). This pathology can be considered a neurobiological human model for the overexpressed social behavior. Are Williams-syndrome patients able to detect trustworthiness from faces? How WS patients form the representation of trustable faces ? Using a preference visual paradigm I observed that WS patients looked less the trustworthy faces compared to control group. This implicit behavior supports patients’ tendency to trust everybody. In a second experiment using reverse correlation paradigm - the procedure pushes subjects to select from noise the facial features that they believe are important for a specific judgment – I found that at group level patients did not show a stereotypical image of trustworthy faces compared to healthy controls. In a final study I investigate whether electrophysiological brain sources, with particular attention to the source localized in the superior temporal sulcus, could explain patients’ behaviour. I found that the activity of a source localized in the STS at 240ms was significantly modulated by eye proximity as in the control group. Overall the results of this work suggests the presence of a fast route in the brain that plays the fundamental role of modulating approach/avoidance behavior. This route may be altered in patients characterized by an overexpressed social behavior

The Blue Bulls Rugby Referees’ Society has experienced difficulty identifying the competencies required for individuals to become successful referees at national and international levels. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to identify the generic competencies required by a referee to become successful at the highest level. Competencies therefore, according to this study, are a prerequisite for successful rugby union refereeing. The two main research strategies used are the quantitative and qualitative research methods. In this study quantitative research is predominant, but qualitative research was also used to identify the competencies employed in the questionnaires. Interviews were conducted with the management of the Blue Bulls Rugby Referees’ Society, and with the players to gather input based upon their knowledge. Interviews with approximately ten senior coaches were also conducted to obtain their views. The information gathered from these interviews, together with personal experience and inputs from De Beer (2003: unpublished interview) were utilised to draw up a list of competencies. In this study survey research was used, using the Delphi technique to determine what the Blue Bulls referees’ opinions are about the required competencies of a successful referee, and to ensure that important competencies were not excluded. The Blue Bulls referees’ inputs were incorporated and a final questionnaire compiled. This questionnaire consisted of 36 competencies, which could be rated on a 5 point Likert scale. The total population for the study was 223, with 181 referees and 42 Currie Cup players. A weighted competency index was determined from these responses and the ten most important generic competencies, required to be a successful referee, from these responses are: Objectivity / Impartiality (being able to treat both sides the same) Consistency (consistency in the way rules are applied during a match) Concentration / Focus (ability to stay focused during a match and not allow the mind to fluctuate) Honesty / Integrity (the ability to be honest with players, on and off the field) Commitment (dedication to do the best when preparing for games, know the rules, and always giving the best when refereeing a match) Judgement (ability to evaluate and judge situations during a match correctly) Fitness (fitness in terms of physical ability to keep up with play during a match) Trustworthiness (ability to make the players trust you and know that you will apply the laws consistently and fairly) Decisiveness (ability to reach quick and firm decisions) Composure (to be calm during difficult situations) / Dissertation (MCom(Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted