Browser Extension for Real-Time Password Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access management systems face challenges in preventing password leakage to unauthorized entities, particularly due to phishing attacks and password reuse across less secure websites, leading to security breaches and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A browser extension or software that processes input information locally, transforms it using a cryptographic hash with a salt, and compares it to stored data to detect unauthorized submission, preventing further access and locking user accounts if a match is found.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users authenticate with passwords to access network resources, then authorized access is enabled, but passwords may be leaked to unauthorized entities through phishing or password reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting password input in real-time before the password can be leaked. The browser extension monitors for password fields and captures the password as it is being typed, transforming it into a hash and comparing it against known compromised passwords from breach databases, preventing the password from being submitted to phishing sites or reused on insecure platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a browser extension as an intermediary between the user and the password field. This intermediary component intercepts the password input, processes it locally through hashing and comparison operations, and determines whether to allow or block the submission, thereby preventing password leakage without requiring changes to the underlying authentication systems.
2Reliability
If strong security measures are implemented to protect passwords, then access management is improved, but users may still reuse passwords on less secure websites leading to breaches
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user password usage patterns and providing real-time alerts when a password is detected on a potentially insecure site. The browser extension compares the hashed password against databases of compromised credentials and notifies users of risky behavior, enabling them to change passwords before leakage occurs, thus creating a feedback loop that prevents password reuse on less secure platforms.
3Reliability
If phishing detection systems are implemented, then security is improved, but detection of password leakage in real-time remains challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical phishing detection systems with a simpler cryptographic approach. Instead of analyzing website characteristics, URLs, or user behavior patterns to detect phishing, the system transforms the password into a hash and compares it against databases of compromised credentials. This substitution of detection methodology simplifies the technical implementation while improving real-time detection capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively detects and prevents password leakage to unauthorized systems, enhancing security by blocking unauthorized access and reducing operational costs associated with security breaches.
Implementation Method 1
automatically processing the information locally at the first computer system using a transformation operation to transform the information to a transformed result
Data Source
AI summary
A system to detect leaks of secure data (e.g., passwords) includes a browser extension (or other software) identifying information (e.g., a password) input to a web page in a browser, processing the information locally using a transformation operation to transform the information to a transformed result (e.g., hash using a salt), forwarding the transformed result to a remote computer system storing secure data, determining that the transformed result matches the stored secure data, and performing a protective action in response to the determining that the transformed result matches the stored secure data.