File-Level Encryption and Application Binding for Malware Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-malware solutions are insufficient in protecting user data from malware attacks, including zero-day attacks and low-level rootkit attacks, as they can go undetected and disable anti-malware defenses, allowing attackers to access sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A file-level data protection system using encryption combined with application whitelisting and application binding, where each file is encrypted and associated with a trusted application, and the application is bound to a specific file path, creating a sandbox to contain malware access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional anti-malware solutions are used, then malware detection capability is provided, but they are insufficient against zero-day attacks and low-level rootkit attacks that can go undetected and disable defenses
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to detect and block malware through complex analysis, the system inverts the approach by encrypting data and controlling application access at the file level. This prevents malware from accessing sensitive information regardless of whether the malware is detected, thereby improving reliability without requiring increasingly complex detection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments protection at the file level rather than relying on system-wide anti-malware solutions. Each sensitive file is individually encrypted and protected by binding it to specific trusted applications, creating granular protection that is more reliable against sophisticated attacks while maintaining manageable complexity through modular implementation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If file-level encryption with application binding is implemented, then malware access to sensitive data is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated application binding and encryption processes. Once files are encrypted and bound to trusted applications, the protection is automatically enforced without requiring continuous user intervention or complex manual configuration, thereby reducing the operational complexity despite the advanced protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-encrypting files and pre-binding them to trusted applications before any malware attack occurs. This proactive setup creates automatic protection that activates without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems, reducing operational complexity while maintaining strong security.
3Reliability
If application whitelisting is used to block unauthorized applications, then malware execution is prevented, but legitimate application compatibility may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by binding encryption and access control to specific file types and trusted applications on a case-by-case basis. This allows different levels of protection and access rules for different applications and file types, maintaining high malware prevention capability while ensuring compatibility with legitimate applications through customized binding rules.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to data encryption and more particularly to data encryption for prevention of malware attacks designed to access user data. The present invention protects user data against regular malware and advance malware like rootkit attacks, zero day attacks and anti-malware disabler attacks. In one embodiment, the present invention uses encryption, application whitelisting, and application binding to prevent malware from accessing a victim's data files. In another embodiment, the present invention uses application path binding to further contain the malware from accessing the victim's data.