Browser Extension for Accurate Network Payload Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems that use proxies to detect and track network transmissions, such as uploads and downloads, are unable to accurately determine information like redirect data, user agent information, and content transfer attributes due to modifications made by intermediary devices, leading to incomplete or inaccurate data collection.
Innovation Solution
A browser application extension is used to detect and store information at the endpoint of network transmissions, capturing details like navigation history, user identification, file information, and content hashes before potential modifications by intermediary devices, allowing for more accurate tracking and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If proxy systems are used to detect and track network transmissions, then transmission detection capability is provided, but measurement precision of content transfer data deteriorates due to modifications by intermediary devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a browser extension as an intermediary component installed at the endpoint device, which acts as a local mediator between the browser and the detection system. This extension captures content transfer data directly at the source/destination, avoiding the data modifications that occur when using external proxy systems. The extension injects detection code into the browser process, enabling precise tracking of uploads and downloads without relying on network-level proxies that cannot access modified data.
2Productivity
If information is captured at intermediary network devices, then network-level monitoring is achieved, but loss of information occurs due to data modifications between receipt and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The browser extension performs preliminary action by capturing and recording content transfer data at the moment of transmission at the endpoint device. It hooks into the browser's file upload and download processes to record attributes such as file paths, URLs, timestamps, and transfer status before the data leaves the device or is stored locally. This preliminary capture ensures that the original information is preserved without relying on post-capture analysis that would be affected by data modifications.
3Measurement precision
If endpoint detection is implemented, then measurement precision of content transfer data is improved, but device complexity increases due to browser extension requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The browser extension leverages the existing browser application as a universal platform, reusing the browser's built-in capabilities for file access, network communication, and data storage. Instead of creating a separate dedicated detection system, the extension multi-functionalizes the browser by adding detection and tracking capabilities to its existing functions. This approach minimizes additional device complexity while achieving precise endpoint detection, as the browser already performs similar operations for normal web browsing.
Data Source
AI summary
Content transfers over the network may be monitored by various systems in order to prevent malicious activity, viruses, other possible risks to computing devices, to confirm the integrity of the transfer, and/or to enforce policies implemented by an organization or user or other entity. To provide accurate and granular information about the content being transferred, an application extension, such as a browser extension, may be implemented to detect content transfers and to determine and store associated data. This data may include redirects, hashes, content file characteristics (name, size, creation date, extension, etc.), user identifier, source and destination information, and the like and/or combinations thereof. Using this information, an analysis system may evaluate the content transfer and the content and determine whether any actions are to be taken with respect to the user, the content, and/or the device.