Secured Group Query Obfuscation for Simulated Phishing Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security awareness training programs for organizations face challenges in effectively determining the appropriate level of security to apply to different groups of employees before displaying user data, particularly in simulated phishing campaigns, which can lead to insufficient protection against malicious attacks.

Innovation Solution

The use of secured groups for simulated phishing campaigns to obfuscate data based on protected criteria classes, where groups are established based on user criteria, identified as secured groups, and information is obfuscated according to specific criteria classes, ensuring appropriate security levels are applied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If user data is displayed without obfuscation in security awareness training, then training effectiveness is improved through clear visibility of user information, but security protection against malicious attacks is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoiduser data visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of user data based on protected criteria classes. Different levels of obfuscation are applied to different user data fields depending on their sensitivity and the criteria they meet. For example, highly sensitive criteria receive full obfuscation while less sensitive criteria receive partial or no obfuscation, allowing the system to maintain security where needed while preserving visibility where appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics through dynamic obfuscation levels that adjust based on the criteria classes of user data. The system evaluates the protected criteria classes and dynamically determines the appropriate obfuscation level for each data field, allowing the visibility and protection levels to change based on the specific characteristics and sensitivity of the user data being displayed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If secured groups with obfuscation are used for simulated phishing campaigns, then security protection is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple criteria classes and obfuscation levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing user data into distinct criteria classes with different protection levels. The system segments user data based on protected criteria classes, allowing each segment to be handled according to its specific security requirements. This segmentation enables the system to manage complexity by processing different data types through standardized but differentiated pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the obfuscation parameters based on the protected criteria classes. The system changes obfuscation parameters such as the degree of masking, data replacement, or visibility levels according to the sensitivity and characteristics of each criteria class, allowing flexible security control without requiring a completely different system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If dynamic adjustment of user data display is implemented, then security effectiveness is improved through adaptive protection, but processing time increases due to real-time evaluation of criteria classes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity effectivenessVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-evaluating and categorizing user data into protected criteria classes before the actual display operation. The system performs preliminary classification and obfuscation level determination in advance, so that when data needs to be displayed, the appropriate obfuscation level is already determined and applied, reducing the processing time during the actual display operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that allow the system to learn from and adapt to previous evaluations of user data criteria classes. By using feedback from prior processing, the system can optimize its criteria evaluation and obfuscation application, reducing processing time through improved efficiency and avoiding redundant evaluations in subsequent operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4250643B1System and method for determination of level of security to apply to a group before display of user data
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 KNOWBE4 INC
  • EP4250643B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4250643B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4250643B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A method comprising: identifying, by the one or more servers, a query statement for running a query on users to determine one or more users that meet one or more criteria of a group, wherein at least one criteria of the one or more criteria comprising a time frame criterion; determining, by the one or more servers, that the at least one criteria of the one or more criteria of the query statement require at least a portion of data resulting from the query statement to be protected; executing, by the one or more servers, the query to identify one or more users of a plurality of users as members of the group based at least on the one or more users matching the at least one criteria of the one or more criteria the group; and obfuscating, by the one or more servers, for display, at least a portion of information of the one or more users.