Cloud Browser Settings Reputation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often face difficulties in resetting their browser settings back to original values due to camouflaged opt-out offers during software installations, leading to unwanted changes in search providers and homepages, with existing browsers lacking a straightforward method for restoring previous settings across different browsers.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based system that analyzes browser settings, provides a unified method to reset homepage and search provider settings across multiple browsers by using a combination of historical data, country, language, and default browser variables, and offers users a simple interface to revert settings to desired values, while maintaining a reputation system for assessing settings through blacklists and whitelists.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If browsers provide individual reset methods for each browser vendor's monetized settings, then browser vendors can maintain their monetization interests, but users face complexity and difficulty in resetting settings across multiple browsers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal settings management system that works across multiple browser vendors (Microsoft, Google, Mozilla, Apple) through a single interface. The system provides multi-functionality by handling detection, notification, and reset operations for different browser types uniformly, eliminating the need for users to learn vendor-specific reset procedures while maintaining the ability to restore settings for each browser's monetized configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (browser settings analyzer and notification system) that mediates between users and the complex vendor-specific browser settings. This intermediary detects hijacked settings, translates vendor-specific configurations into a unified notification format, and coordinates resets across multiple browsers, shielding users from the underlying complexity while preserving vendor monetization capabilities
2Productivity
If software installations include camouflaged opt-out offers for browser settings changes, then companies can gain market share in the advertising marketplace, but users unknowingly accept unwanted changes to search providers and homepages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the browser settings analyzer continuously monitors browser configurations and compares them against known hijacked settings. When unwanted changes are detected, the system provides feedback to the user through notifications that clearly indicate the nature of the change and offer restoration options, enabling users to correct camouflaged opt-out effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring detection rules and restoration templates for known browser hijacking patterns before they affect users. The system proactively identifies when settings have been modified by camouflaged opt-out offers and automatically prepares restoration procedures, allowing users to revert changes without manually navigating complex browser settings
3Device complexity
If browsers do not offer history of settings or easy reset methods, then browser vendors simplify their settings management, but users cannot easily restore hijacked settings to previous values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring restoration templates and stored historical settings for multiple browser vendors. When hijacking is detected, the system can immediately restore settings to known good states without requiring users to manually navigate through complex browser history or configuration menus, effectively providing repair capability that browsers themselves do not offer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and storing copies of legitimate browser settings configurations and historical states. These copied settings serve as restoration templates that can be quickly deployed when hijacking is detected, allowing users to restore settings without accessing the complex original browser configuration interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for an automated classification and reset of browser settings is provided. A set of disreputable browser setting values is maintained based on statistics associated with the browser setting values. In response to determining that an attempt is made to set a browser setting to a value in the set of disreputable browser setting values, a notification can be presented to the user. The notification can include options in a set of reputable browser settings.