Active Message Security via Dynamic-to-Static Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Active messages pose significant security risks due to their dynamic nature, which can lead to security vulnerabilities, data leakage, and compliance issues, as they can change content and behavior based on user interactions, making it difficult to determine the actual content seen by recipients and compromising evidentiary value.
Innovation Solution
A system that processes active messages by executing their content on behalf of the recipient, converting it to static content, and forwarding it, while allowing selective re-enablement of safe active features, along with features for data leak prevention, archiving, and security validation, to manage and secure active message interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active message content is executed and converted to static content for security, then security risks are mitigated, but the dynamic functionality and interactivity of active messages are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the active message processing into distinct phases: execution phase (where active content runs in a controlled environment), conversion phase (where output is captured), and delivery phase (where static content is forwarded). This allows security measures to be applied selectively without completely eliminating dynamic functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (email gateway or proxy server) that acts as a mediator between the active message sender and recipient. This intermediary executes the active content in a controlled environment, captures the output, and forwards it as static content, thereby providing security while preserving the essential communication function.
2Loss of information
If active message content is converted to static content, then evidentiary value is preserved, but the ability to customize content based on user interactions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary execution of active message content in a controlled environment before delivery to the recipient. By executing the content first and capturing its output, the system creates a static representation that preserves evidentiary value while preventing unauthorized modifications after delivery.
3Reliability
If active message content is executed on behalf of the recipient, then security risks are reduced, but processing time and system resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically executes active message content, captures output, and forwards converted messages without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach handles the processing overhead systematically, reducing the perceived processing time for users while maintaining security measures.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for attacks, countermeasures, archiving, data leak prevention, and other novel services relating to active messages are disclosed. Among other things, a system can replace active content with static content in a message, can replace static content with active content in a message, and can use active messaging to provide enhanced on-hold message functions.