Hardware Security Interceptor for Mobile Device Malware Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices lack effective security measures against malware, particularly when interacting with external electronic devices, leading to increased malware propagation risks due to the absence of antivirus and anti-malware software.

Innovation Solution

A hardware accessory acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and external electronic devices, providing a security system that includes a malware scanner, secure storage, and a secure file transfer mechanism to scan and protect against malware, eliminating the need for on-device security software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices connect to external electronic devices for data transfer, then functionality and user convenience are improved, but malware propagation risk increases due to lack of security measures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidmalware propagation risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a security system comprising a security processor and security memory as an intermediary component between the mobile device processor and external electronic devices. This intermediary intercepts and scans all data transfers, files, and communications passing through it, blocking malicious content while allowing legitimate data exchange to proceed normally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If antivirus and anti-malware software are installed on mobile devices, then security protection is improved, but device resources and performance are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoiddevice resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the security functionality from the main mobile device by implementing it as a separate security system with its own dedicated security processor and security memory. This segmentation allows the main device resources to remain available for primary functions while the security system independently handles malware detection and prevention tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If security scanning is performed on all data transfers, then malware detection accuracy is improved, but data transfer speed and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalware detection accuracyVSAvoiddata transfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The security system performs scanning on all data transfers and files, which may seem excessive, but implements intelligent optimization by using pattern matching and heuristic analysis to quickly identify and block only malicious content while allowing legitimate data to pass through with minimal delay, thus maintaining both high detection accuracy and acceptable transfer speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3729318B1Methods and apparatus for securing a mobile device
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 MCAFEE LLC
  • EP3729318B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3729318B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3729318B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for securing a mobile device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing dimensioned to receive the mobile device. A secure storage is carried by the housing. A malware scanner is carried by the housing, and is to perform a first scan of an external electronic device to detect malware. A driver loader is carried by the housing, and is to mount a secure file transfer driver in response to the first scan not identifying malware on the external electronic device. A file handler is carried by the housing, and is to detect, using the secure file transfer driver, a file to be transferred intermediate the external electronic device and the mobile device. The malware scanner is to scan the file. The file handler is to quarantine the file in response to the malware scanner detecting malware in the file.