Patent · US Active

Secure prompting

US7996682B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 2005
Grant dateAug 9, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 29, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F21/57
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for securely prompting a user to confirm sensitive operations, input sensitive information or the like. The techniques include receiving or intercepting calls from applications to prompting routines. When a call to a prompting routine is received or intercepted a hint may be provided to the user to switch to a secure desktop. When the user switches from the user desktop to the secure desktop the particular prompt is displayed. The input to the prompt is received on the secure desktop and verified to have been provided by the user. The user input or a representation of the input is then returned to the application running on the user desktop. Using these techniques, interception of prompting messages by malware does not result in sensitive information being revealed. Furthermore, spoofing of new messages by malware does not lead to the dismissal of critical prompting.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.