Social Network Validation for Malicious Account Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Web sites face issues with malicious user accounts set up for unauthorized purposes, such as sending advertisements, which existing systems fail to effectively identify and mitigate.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes social networking site information to validate user accounts by analyzing scores based on factors like friends, account activity, location, and account history, and uses these scores to determine whether an account is legitimate or malicious, thereby granting or denying privileges on the primary web site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user accounts are allowed to be created freely on the primary web site, then ease of operation is improved, but malicious accounts can be set up for unauthorized purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation by retrieving and analyzing social network information before granting full account privileges. Accounts are initially created but placed in a monitored state until social network verification confirms legitimacy, preventing malicious accounts from immediately performing unauthorized actions.
Solution Approach 2:
Social network information serves as an intermediary verification mechanism between the user and the primary web site. The system retrieves data from external social networking sites to validate user identity and account legitimacy, using this third-party information as a mediator to distinguish legitimate users from malicious actors.
2Measurement precision
If social network information retrieval and analysis is implemented, then ability to identify malicious accounts is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validation process is segmented into distinct phases: initial account creation, social network information retrieval, analysis of retrieved information, and final validation decision. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by handling each step separately with dedicated processing logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing social network platforms to perform part of the validation work. Instead of building a complex verification system from scratch, the patent uses the social networks' own data and structures to validate user identities, allowing the external systems to serve themselves for verification purposes.
3Productivity
If monitored accounts are granted full privileges, then productivity is improved, but risk of unauthorized communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
Account privileges are made dynamic rather than static. Monitored accounts start with limited privileges and can escalate to full privileges as validation progresses and legitimacy is confirmed. This dynamic privilege structure allows the system to adapt access levels based on the account's validation status and behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors accounts and uses feedback from ongoing activity analysis to adjust privilege levels. Accounts that exhibit legitimate behavior patterns receive increased privileges, while those showing suspicious activity have privileges restricted or revoked, creating a feedback loop that balances productivity and security.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method uses any or all of information of a user and/or user's activity at a second web site, information of the user's friends or other connections at the second web site, or registration information of the user, to determine whether to allow the user to communicate with other users of a first web site, prevent the user from communicating with other users of the first web site, or monitor the user's communications and allow or prevent the user from further communication based on the monitored communications at the first web site.