Patent Application
20170063820
This disclosure relates generally to online account security, and more particularly to performing online account security actions in response to sign-on and sign-off events.
Accessing online accounts using mobile applications may present certain security risks. For example, communications or local data associated with the mobile application may not be encrypted. This may allow for easier access to such data for unauthorized users, such as hackers. In addition, the local data associated with the mobile application may be stored on the mobile device long after the user has ended their session on the mobile application. This may also provide easier access to such data for unauthorized users.
In accordance with the present disclosure, disadvantages and problems associated with accessing an online account using a mobile application may be reduced or eliminated.
According to one embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a memory comprising instructions, an interface, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the interface. The interface is configured to receive an indication of a sign-on event for a first application installed on a user device, and the processor is configured, when executing the instructions, to perform, in response to the sign-on event, one or more first account security functions.
According to one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises the steps of receiving an indication of a sign-on event for a first application installed on a user device, and performing, in response to the sign-on event, one or more first account security functions
According to one embodiment, a computer-readable medium comprising instructions is provided. The instructions are configured when executed to receive an indication of a sign-on event for a first application installed on a user device, and perform, in response to the sign-on event, one or more first account security functions
Technical advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure include securing a user device when online accounts are accessed using mobile applications, which may prevent the loss or misappropriation of sensitive data associated with the online account. Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for performing online account security actions in response to sign-on and sign-off events. More particularly, a user device running a mobile application to access an online account may secure the user device based on the sign-on and sign-off events. For example, communications and local data associated with the mobile application may be encrypted when a user is logged into the mobile application. As another example, all local data associated with the mobile application may be deleted when a user signs out of the mobile application. For confirmation, notifications may be provided to a user of the user device indicating that the security actions have been taken, such as during or after the sign-on and sign-off events.
To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples of certain embodiments are given. In no way should the following examples be read to limit, or define, the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages may be best understood by referring to
Server 120 may provide one or more functions accessible to user devices 110, as described herein. For example, server 120 may provide users of user devices 110 access to one or more online accounts or account functions through a website, through a dedicated application installed on the user device 110, or through any other suitable means. In providing functionality to user devices 110, server 120 may access or otherwise utilize database 125.
Network 130 may include any suitable technique for communicably coupling user devices 110 with server 120. For example, network 130 may include an ad-hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a wired or wireless local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a portion of a cellular telephone network, or any combination thereof.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to
Computer system 200 may include a processor 210, memory 220 comprising instructions 230, storage 240, interface 250, and bus 260. These components may work together to perform one or more steps of one or more methods (e.g. method 500 of
Processor 210 may be a microprocessor, controller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other suitable device or logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other components (e.g., memory 220 and instructions 230) functionality according to the present disclosure. Such functionality may include processing application functions using remotely-located common function modules, as discussed herein. In particular embodiments, processor 210 may include hardware for executing instructions 230, such as those making up a computer program or application. As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions 230, processor 210 may retrieve (or fetch) instructions 230 from an internal register, an internal cache, memory 220, or storage 240; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results of the execution to an internal register, an internal cache, memory 220, or storage 240.
Memory 220 may be any form of volatile or non-volatile memory including, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, removable media, or any other suitable local or remote memory component or components. Memory 220 may store any suitable data or information utilized by computer system 200, including software (e.g., instructions 230) embedded in a computer readable medium, and/or encoded logic incorporated in hardware or otherwise stored (e.g., firmware). In particular embodiments, memory 220 may include main memory for storing instructions 230 for processor 210 to execute or data for processor 210 to operate on. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMUs) may reside between processor 210 and memory 220 and facilitate accesses to memory 220 requested by processor 210.
Storage 240 may include mass storage for data or instructions (e.g., instructions 230). As an example and not by way of limitation, storage 240 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, a combination of two or more of these, or any suitable computer readable medium. Storage 240 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. Storage 240 may be internal or external to computer system 200, where appropriate. In some embodiments, instructions 230 may be encoded in storage 240 in addition to, in lieu of, memory 220.
Interface 250 may include hardware, encoded software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between computer systems on a network (e.g., between employee devices 110 and back-end 130 of
Bus 260 may include any combination of hardware, software embedded in a computer readable medium, and/or encoded logic incorporated in hardware or otherwise stored (e.g., firmware) to communicably couple components of computer system 200 to each other. As an example and not by way of limitation, bus 260 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCI-X) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or any other suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus 260 may include any number, type, and/or configuration of buses 260, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, one or more buses 260 (which may each include an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor 210 to memory 220. Bus 260 may include one or more memory buses.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to
Once the user is finished with her session on the mobile applications, she may log out of the mobile application (i.e., a sign-off event).
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 400 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the order of the steps may be performed in a different manner than that described and some steps may be performed at the same time. Additionally, each individual step may include additional steps without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Although the present disclosure includes several embodiments, changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
