Proximity-Based Identity Verification Using Trusted Vouching Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online identity verification systems are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, particularly deep fake AI attacks, and do not adequately protect users who are susceptible to phishing and social engineering attacks.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to verify their identity by registering trusted friends and family as vouching users, who can confirm the user's identity through real-time communication methods such as livestreams, video calls, or physical proximity verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication procedures are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to deep fake AI attacks and social engineering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces trusted contacts as intermediary human validators who physically verify the user's identity and provide authentication approval. This intermediary layer prevents automated attacks while maintaining operational simplicity for legitimate users, resolving the contradiction between security reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary registration of trusted contacts and pre-establishes verification protocols before authentication is needed. This preliminary setup enables rapid real-time verification during actual authentication events, maintaining both high reliability and ease of operation when authentication is required
2Reliability
If real-time verification with multiple vouching users is implemented, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that coordinates the complex multi-user verification process, managing communications between the user device and multiple vouching users. This centralizes complexity on the server side while keeping the client device relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between verification reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The verification system is segmented into distinct functional components: user device for initiating verification, server for coordinating the process, and multiple vouching users for independent validation. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the overall system achieves high reliability through distributed verification
3Reliability
If physical proximity verification is required, then reliability improves against remote attacks, but ease of operation worsens due to location constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the verification method based on the situation, offering both physical proximity verification and remote video call verification options. This dynamic flexibility maintains reliability by preventing fraud while preserving ease of operation for users who cannot meet physically, resolving the contradiction between fraud prevention and verification accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of verifying a user's identity using trusted members of the user's community are provided. Users may request trusted friends and family members register as vouching users. If a user needs to confirm the user's identity, such as during a multifactor authentication verification or in the event of a forgotten credential, vouching users may be called upon to verify user identity. Vouching users may confirm a user's identity via a group communication session or by proving physical proximity to the user. Physical proximity may be proven by tapping a token, such as an electronic device or a transaction card, to either the user's device and/or the vouching user's device. Using trusted friends and family members to verify a user's identity safeguards online accounts from deep fake AI creations and protects susceptible online users from phishing schemes and social engineering attacks.