Virtual Browser Isolation With Real-Time Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack secure and efficient methods for users to interact with virtual browser application environments while ensuring privacy, access control, and protection against malicious activities.
Innovation Solution
A framework for a secure virtual browser application environment that allows users to privately access the internet, collaborate securely, and enforce access control policies through real-time monitoring and encoding of web content, using a virtual machine instance to isolate and restrict interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users access websites directly through native browser applications, then ease of operation is improved, but security and protection against malicious activities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual browser application as an intermediary layer between users and websites. This virtual browser runs within a controlled environment (virtual machine instance) and mediates all interactions with websites, preventing direct exposure to malicious content while maintaining user-friendly access. The virtual browser captures and encodes website content before presenting it to users, acting as a security buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the browsing environment into isolated virtual machine instances. Each virtual browser application operates in a separate, controlled virtual environment that is isolated from the host system and other virtual machines. This segmentation allows safe browsing without risking the entire system, and enables multiple users to access websites simultaneously in isolated secure containers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If virtual browser application environment is implemented to ensure security, then protection against malicious activities is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual machine instance serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides security isolation, hosts the virtual browser application, manages access control policies, and enables real-time monitoring and encoding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated security systems, thereby managing complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms through automated access control policy enforcement and real-time monitoring. The virtual browser application automatically applies security policies, monitors user interactions, and encodes content without requiring manual intervention. This automation reduces operational complexity while maintaining high security standards.
3Reliability
If access control policies are enforced through real-time monitoring, then security control is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Access control policies are established and configured in advance before users interact with the virtual browser application. The system pre-defines what actions are permitted or restricted based on user roles and security requirements. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically enforce policies in real-time without requiring complex decision-making during user interactions, thereby maintaining both security and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time monitoring that provides feedback on user actions against access control policies. When users attempt actions, the system automatically checks them against predefined policies and provides immediate feedback by permitting or blocking the action. This automated feedback loop ensures reliable access control without requiring manual review, maintaining productivity while enforcing security.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If web content is encoded to prevent exposure of underlying structure, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates encoded copies of website content instead of displaying the original underlying structure. The virtual browser captures website content and generates encoded representations that preserve the visual appearance and functionality for users while removing or obscuring the original code structure, scripts, and sensitive elements. This copying approach maintains user experience while preventing exposure of underlying structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The encoding is applied selectively to specific portions of web content rather than uniformly to all content. The system encodes sensitive elements such as source code, scripts, and structural information while leaving user-visible content intact. This localized application of encoding preserves ease of operation for legitimate browsing while preventing exposure of critical underlying structures where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments provide a framework for provisioning a virtual browser application environment accessible using a native browser application. The virtual browser application environment is implemented on a virtual machine instance, where the virtual environment is isolated from other functionality of the virtual machine instance. In response to a request to access the environment, a set of access control policies are identified. The access control policies define a level of access to actions that can be performed within the environment. The environment is presented through a website executed on a user's native browser application. The user's interactions with the environment and with any other users within the environment are monitored in real-time according to the access control policies.