Information is acquired over a network by acquiring an original request including a current search value that specifies information to be acquired from a database. It is determined whether the information to be acquired by the original request is singular with respect to a request previously issued by the information processing apparatus and stored in a request log in which a history of search values is registered. A diffusion request is generated including a dummy request to dilute singularity of an access log related to the current search value to the database issued by the information processing apparatus where the original request is determined to be singular with respect to the current search value, the dummy request being generated from a dummy value that provides a different search value requesting information different from the information to be acquired. The diffusion request is issued as a search request to the database over the network. The search result information acquired by the diffusion request is extracted from a response to the search request.