Decoy Icons for Mobile App Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing reliance on mobile computing devices has led to concerns about unauthorized access to personal information stored on these devices, as users often face challenges in preventing unwanted access by both guests and malicious users, especially since traditional security measures like guest login credentials can compromise sensitive data.
Innovation Solution
A trap service is implemented on user computing devices to generate decoy icons for selected applications, which deceive unauthorized users into accessing fake content, thereby preventing access to sensitive information by invoking a trap application that can lock the device or display simulated data, thus protecting personal data from exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional security measures like guest login credentials are used, then device access is enabled for guests, but sensitive data may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces decoy icons as an intermediary layer between the user and the actual application icons. These decoy icons appear identical to legitimate icons but redirect to safe applications or dummy content, thereby mediating the interaction to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data while maintaining ease of device operation for guests
2Object-affected harmful factors
If decoy icons are implemented, then unauthorized access to sensitive data is prevented, but the menu of icons becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only specific icons in the menu deceptive while leaving others genuine. The decoy icons are strategically placed among legitimate icons, creating localized areas of deception rather than transforming the entire interface. This maintains overall system simplicity while providing targeted protection against unauthorized access
3Adaptability or versatility
If decoy icons are used, then guest users can access non-sensitive features, but detecting which icon is which becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies of legitimate application icons as decoys, making them indistinguishable at first glance. These copied icons are placed in the menu to deceive unauthorized users into selecting safe applications. The copying principle enables guests to freely explore the interface without accidentally accessing sensitive data, as the decoy icons appear identical to the real ones but lead to harmless destinations
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are provided herein and include embodiments for protecting applications and information on a user computing device and include generating a menu of icons including an application icon and a decoy icon that correspond to a mobile application in a mobile device, where the application icon is assigned to a first location in the menu and the decoy icon is assigned to a second location in the menu. The embodiment further includes communicating icon location information to the mobile application, providing the menu of icons for display on a display screen of the mobile device, receiving a first indication of user input to select the decoy icon in the menu of icons, invoking the mobile application based on the decoy icon being selected, and communicating, to the mobile application based on the decoy icon being selected, second location information indicating the second location in the menu of icons.