Cyber-Security System for Digital Account Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face difficulties in managing and securing numerous online accounts, leading to potential unauthorized access and data breaches due to forgotten subscriptions and financial accounts remaining active, which poses risks of fraud and digital safety threats.

Innovation Solution

A cyber-security system that generates consumer profiles, scans devices for security threats, monitors email and internet activity to identify accounts, and recommends closing unused accounts, while assisting in updating personal information across multiple platforms to enhance digital safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If consumers manually track and manage their online accounts, then they can maintain awareness of their subscriptions, but the process becomes time-consuming and difficult as the number of accounts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveawareness of online accountsVSAvoidtime to track accounts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically discovers and tracks consumer accounts by monitoring email accounts and browser data without requiring manual consumer input. The system self-manages the account tracking process, generating consumer profiles and identifying account information autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of tracking accounts is replaced with an automated electronic system that uses email monitoring and browser data analysis to automatically discover and manage account information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If consumers leave unused accounts open, then they maintain access to potential services, but the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to servicesVSAvoidunauthorized access risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors consumer email accounts and browser data to detect changes in account status, service usage, and security threats. This feedback loop enables the system to identify unused accounts and alert consumers to security risks in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively identifies and flags potential security threats before they can cause harm by analyzing email patterns and browser data to detect unauthorized access attempts or compromised accounts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If consumers close unused accounts to improve security, then the risk of data breaches decreases, but the complexity of managing account information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata breach riskVSAvoidaccount management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs multiple functions through a single interface: it discovers accounts, tracks their status, assesses security risks, provides closure recommendations, and helps manage account information. This multi-functional approach consolidates complex account management tasks into one unified system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If the system monitors multiple data sources including email and browser history, then account discovery accuracy improves, but the processing complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccount discovery accuracyVSAvoidsystem processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the account discovery process into separate modular components: one module monitors email accounts for account information, another analyzes browser history and cached data, and a third synthesizes this information to generate consumer profiles. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific data sources while working together toward the overall goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3955551A1Digital safety and account discovery
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY
  • EP3955551A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3955551A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3955551A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses may assist a consumer in keeping track of a consumer's accounts in order to prevent unauthorized access or use of the consumer's identified accounts. To discover the various accounts, the methods, computer-readable media, software, and apparatuses can monitor at least a consumer's email accounts, web browser history, and web cache. The discovered accounts may be displayed to the consumer along with recommendations and assistance for closing unused or unwanted accounts to prevent unauthorized access or use.