Mobile Browser VPN Connector for Secure Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices, especially smartphones, often connect to insecure Internet connections while roaming, posing security and privacy risks due to potential malware and data leakage, which can affect entire organizations if used for enterprise matters.
Innovation Solution
A mobile web browser that establishes a secure connection using a VPN, scans URLs for malware, blocks trackers, and allows users to selectively block detected trackers, ensuring privacy by preventing logging of browsing histories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices connect to Internet through insecure connections while roaming, then connectivity and accessibility are improved, but security and privacy are compromised due to malware and data leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a VPN server as an intermediary between the mobile device and the Internet. The VPN connector establishes an encrypted tunnel through this intermediary, allowing the device to maintain connectivity while all traffic is protected. The switch then routes traffic through the VPN server, which acts as a mediator that preserves security while enabling access.
2Reliability
If a VPN connector is used to establish secure connections, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the VPN functionality directly into the web browser application. The VPN connector, switch, URL scanner, and tracker scanner are integrated as components within the browser, combining multiple security and privacy functions into a single unified application rather than requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The web browser is designed to perform multiple functions: web browsing, VPN connection establishment, IP address switching, URL malware scanning, and tracker detection. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require separate applications into a single universal tool.
3Reliability
If URL scanning for malware is performed before loading web pages, then security is improved, but browsing speed and user experience deteriorate due to additional processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The URL content scanner performs malware scanning as a preliminary action before the web page is loaded. By checking the URL in advance and only allowing safe URLs to proceed to loading, the system prevents malicious content from ever reaching the device, making the security check an efficient gatekeeping step rather than a continuous burden.
4Reliability
If trackers are blocked to protect user privacy, then privacy is improved, but functionality of web pages may deteriorate due to blocked legitimate scripts
Solution Approach 1:
The tracker scanner applies different quality treatments to different parts of web page content. It specifically identifies and blocks only tracker scripts while allowing other legitimate scripts to execute. This localized approach to filtering ensures that privacy protection is applied precisely where needed without broadly impacting overall page functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile browser embedded in a smartphone operative to open a secure private session with a server using an IP address of the smartphone, including a VPN connector integrated within a mobile browser such that the VPN connector loads automatically upon opening the browser, operative to connect the smartphone to a secure VPN server and to establish a virtual IP address for the smartphone, the virtual IP address corresponding to the location of the VPN server, wherein the VPN connector enables the browser to operate in three modes; namely, a VPN connection alone without browsing, browsing without a VPN connection, and browsing with a VPN connection, and a switch operative to change a current IP address of the smartphone used by the mobile browser from a non-VPN IP address to the virtual IP address of the VPN server, in a seamless manner without interrupting a current session with a server.