Electronic File Neutralization via Fingerprint Substitution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Entities face challenges in locating and neutralizing misappropriated electronic files on computer systems not under their control, as existing methods are ineffective in identifying and removing such files from external systems.
Innovation Solution
A computerized system determines the identifying characteristics of a misappropriated electronic file and creates a second file with similar characteristics but different content, which is submitted to a third-party content inspection system to neutralize malicious documents, enabling the identification and removal of copies of the misappropriated file.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a content inspection system directly scans for misappropriated files on external computer systems, then the ability to locate and neutralize malicious files improves, but the system complexity and resource requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file fingerprinting system as an intermediary between the content inspection system and external computer systems. Instead of directly scanning external systems, the inspection system uses fingerprints (hash values) of misappropriated files to identify them on remote systems. This intermediary approach maintains high reliability in locating malicious files while reducing system complexity by avoiding direct deep scanning of external systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of direct file scanning with a computational fingerprinting approach. By converting files into hash values and using these fingerprints for identification, the system substitutes complex mechanical scanning operations with more efficient computational matching, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If comprehensive scanning is performed to identify all copies of misappropriated files, then the completeness of neutralization improves, but the time and computational resources required worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates fingerprints (copies in the form of hash values) of misappropriated files that can be rapidly distributed and matched against files on external systems. Instead of performing comprehensive scanning of entire file systems, the system uses these fingerprint copies to quickly identify matching files, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining complete identification of all copies through the distributed fingerprint matching approach.
3Measurement precision
If the system stores and compares complete file contents to identify misappropriated files, then the accuracy of identification improves, but the storage requirements and processing overhead worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifying characteristic of files (their fingerprint or hash value) rather than storing and comparing complete file contents. This extraction approach maintains high accuracy in file identification because the fingerprint uniquely represents the file's content, while dramatically reducing storage requirements by storing only the compact hash values instead of entire file contents.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computerized system for neutralizing misappropriated electronic files. The system typically includes a processor, a memory, and an electronic file neutralizing module stored in the memory. The system is typically configured for: determining that a first electronic file has been misappropriated; determining one or more identifying characteristics of the first electronic file; creating a second electronic file, wherein the second electronic file has different content than the first electronic file but comprises the one or more identifying characteristics of the first electronic file; and submitting the second electronic file to a third party providing a content inspection system that neutralizes malicious electronic documents.