Proactive Mobile Device Security with Selective Data Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face high risks of being lost or stolen, with existing security methods either being ineffective against unauthorized access or inconvenient for users, such as complete data wipe which results in data loss.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device can proactively assess security risks, transmit its location, and enhance security by selectively protecting data, limiting functionality, and recording user actions to aid recovery, while allowing authorized users to disable privacy breaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If remote wipe command is sent to mobile device, then unauthorized access is prevented, but all data is lost including user data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data protection by implementing selective data wiping - only unauthorized user data is removed while preserving authorized user data. This is achieved through user-specific data directories and selective deletion commands that target only the thief's data partition, not the entire device storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different security treatments to different data regions. Authorized user data receives protection through encryption and selective wiping, while unauthorized user data is completely removed. The system identifies and applies appropriate security measures to specific data locations based on user authorization status.
2Reliability
If complete data wipe is performed, then security is enhanced, but user convenience deteriorates due to data loss and restoration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data storage into user-specific segments with separate protection mechanisms. When security threats are detected, only the unauthorized user's data segment is wiped while other segments remain intact, eliminating the need for complete device restoration and maintaining user convenience.
3Reliability
If location tracking and surveillance features are activated, then device recovery is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by warning users before location and surveillance data is transmitted. A privacy warning is displayed giving users the opportunity to cancel the transmission, preventing unwanted privacy breaches while still enabling recovery capabilities when authorized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to users about surveillance activities through privacy warnings and notifications. Users receive information about what data is being collected and transmitted, allowing them to control and manage their privacy settings actively.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, program products, and systems for proactively securing mobile devices are described. A mobile device can proactively determine whether the mobile device is associated with a security risk and the level of the security risk. Upon determining a security risk, the mobile device can transmit coordinates of its current geographic location to a server. To protect privacy of authorized users, the transmission can be disabled by entering a password. If multiple failed password attempts are detected, the mobile device can proactively increase a security level of the device, and selectively protect files or other content stored on the mobile device. In some implementations, the mobile device can be transitioned into a surveillance mode where the mobile device records or captures information associated with one or more of user actions, ambient sound, images, a trajectory of the device, and transmits the recorded or captured information to the network resource.