Web Browsing Security via Transcoding Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anti-virus and firewall solutions for internet security are cumbersome and require frequent updates, making them difficult for average users to configure and maintain, and often result in over-blocking of safe websites, limiting user flexibility and requiring substantial maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for safe web browsing that uses a transcoding server to analyze and block access to unacceptable URLs and scripts by comparing them to user-defined preferences and databases, deactivating or redirecting links to ensure a secure browsing experience without requiring extensive user expertise or maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional anti-virus or security software packages are installed to protect from malicious attacks, then security protection is improved, but configuration and updating become cumbersome and complicated for average users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web proxy server as an intermediary between the user's computer and the internet. This server automatically filters, monitors, and transcodes web pages before they reach the user, eliminating the need for users to directly configure security software while maintaining protection against malicious content.
Solution Approach 2:
The web proxy server performs automatic configuration and updates without user intervention. It self-manages security filters, monitors for malicious content, and updates its databases of unacceptable URLs and scripts, thereby providing security protection while eliminating the cumbersome configuration and updating tasks that plague conventional software.
2Reliability
If firewall solutions are used to block inappropriate or malicious websites, then security protection is improved, but user flexibility is reduced and access to safe but blocked websites is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of blocking entire websites uniformly, the patent applies selective filtering at the content level. The web proxy server analyzes individual web pages and only blocks specific unacceptable elements (malicious scripts, unacceptable URLs) while allowing safe content to pass through, thereby maintaining user flexibility while ensuring security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts filtering parameters based on real-time analysis of web content. It monitors URLs, referenced links, and scripts against updated databases of unacceptable content, changing its blocking behavior based on the specific characteristics of each page rather than applying static website blocks, thus balancing security with user access flexibility.
3Reliability
If firewall solutions block entire websites to ensure security, then security protection is improved, but maintenance cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security filtering function from complex firewall systems and concentrates it in a dedicated web proxy server. This server handles all security-related tasks including monitoring, filtering, and transcoding web content, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining robust security protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The web proxy server performs multiple functions within a single system: it acts as a firewall, content filter, script blocker, and webpage transcoder. By consolidating these functions into one device that automatically updates and maintains security databases, the system reduces operational complexity and maintenance costs compared to multiple separate security tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for safe web browsing is disclosed. More specifically, the method and apparatus comprises receiving a webpage associated with a uniform resource locator (URL) access request. The webpage may further comprise a referenced link or script. A determination is made if any of the URL, the referenced link or script within the webpage are deemed unacceptable. The webpage is transcoded to block access to at least one of the URL, the referenced link or script deemed unacceptable. The transcoded webpage is sent to a computer that requested access to the URL.