User Interface For Security Protection And Remote Management Of Network Endpoints

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016173447-A1
Application number	US-201514966315-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 11, 2015
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some embodiments, a network regulator device protects a local network of client systems (e.g. Internet-of-things devices such as smartphones, home appliances, wearables, etc.) against computer security threats. Various aspects of the operation of the network regulator may be managed remotely via a graphical user interface (GUI) executing on an administration device, such as a mobile phone. The GUI is further configured to display a security notification to a user of the administration device, the security notification indicating the occurrence of a security event caused by an action of a protected client system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computing system comprising a hardware processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the hardware processor, cause the computing system to:
receive data from a remote server, the data selected by the server for transmission to the computing system according to a subscription associated with a network regulator protecting a plurality of client systems against computer security threats, wherein the plurality of client systems are connected to the network regulator over a local network; and perform a display of a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to:
generate a device management view enabling a user to remotely configure a client system of the plurality of client systems, and
generate a security notification view displaying an indicator of a security event caused by an action of the client system,
wherein the network regulator is configured, in response to connecting to a router providing a network service to the plurality of client systems, to automatically take over the network service from the router, wherein the network service comprises supplying network addresses to the plurality of client systems.

2 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein both the device management view and the security notification view display an owner icon and a device icon, the owner icon symbolizing an owner of the client system and the device icon symbolizing the client system, and wherein:
generating the device management view comprises displaying the owner icon and the device icon in a manner which emphasizes the device icon with respect to the owner icon; and generating the security notification view comprises displaying the owner icon and the device icon in a manner which emphasizes the owner icon with respect to the device icon.

3 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element enabling a user to select a contact from a list of contacts used by the computer system, and to designate the contact as owner of the client system.

4 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the device management view displays a vulnerability indicator indicative of how susceptible the client system is to computer security threats, the vulnerability indicator selected from a group consisting of an indicator of a quality of a password protecting the client system, and an indicator of whether a software executing on the client system is up to date.

5 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element which, when activated by a user of the computing system, causes a transmission of a notification to the client system, the notification causing the client system to update a software component executing on the client system.

6 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element which, when activated by a user of the computing system, causes a transmission of a notification to the network regulator, the notification causing the network regulator to update a software component executing on the network regulator.

7 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the security event comprises detecting malicious software executing on the client system.

8 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the security event comprises detecting an attempt by the client system to access a resource located outside the local network, wherein accessing the resource constitutes a computer security threat to the client system.

9 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the security event comprises an indicator of a category of computer security threats indicated by the security event, and further comprises a text definition of the category.

10 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the computing system comprises a mobile telephone.

11 . A method comprising:
employing a network regulator to protect a plurality of client systems against computer security threats, wherein the plurality of client systems are connected to the network regulator over a local network; employing the network regulator, in response to connecting to a router providing a network service to the plurality of client systems, to automatically take over the network service from the router, wherein the network service comprises supplying network addresses to the plurality of client systems; in response to the network regulator taking over the network service, employing a hardware processor of a computing system to receive data from a remote server, the data selected by the server for transmission to the computing system according to a subscription associated with the network regulator; and in response to the network regulator taking over the network service, employing the hardware processor to perform a display of a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to:
generate a device management view enabling a user to remotely configure a client system of the plurality of client systems, and
generate a security notification view displaying an indicator of a security event caused by an action of the client system.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein both the device management view and the security notification view display an owner icon and a device icon, the owner icon symbolizing an owner of the client system and the device icon symbolizing the client system, and wherein:
generating the device management view comprises displaying the owner icon and the device icon in a manner which emphasizes the device icon with respect to the owner icon; and generating the security notification view comprises displaying the owner icon and the device icon in a manner which emphasizes the owner icon with respect to the device icon.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element enabling a user to select a contact from a list of contacts used by the computer system, and to designate the contact as owner of the client system.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the device management view displays a vulnerability indicator indicative of how susceptible the client system is to computer security threats, the vulnerability indicator selected from a group consisting of an indicator of a quality of a password protecting the client system, and an indicator of whether a software executing on the client system is up to date.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element which, when activated by a user of the computing system, causes a transmission of a notification to the client system, the notification causing the client system to update a software component executing on the client system.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the device management view displays an interactive element which, when activated by a user of the computing system, causes a transmission of a notification to the network regulator, the notification causing the network regulator to update a software component executing on the network regulator.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the security event comprises detecting malicious software executing on the client system.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the security event comprises detecting an attempt by the client system to access a resource located outside the local network, wherein accessing the resource constitutes a computer security threat to the client system.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indicator of the security event comprise

Assignees

• Bitdefender Ipr Man Ltd

Inventors

• Achim Alexandru I
• Padina Mirela L
• Miron Monica M
• Cebere Bogdan C
• Stan Cosmin C
• Albisteanu Catalina
• Berte Dan
• Dumitrache Bogdan
• Mircescu Daniel A
• Novac Alex

Classifications

• H04L12/4633 Primary

  Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling · CPC title

• H04W88/12

  Access point controller devices · CPC title

• H04L67/02

  based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] · CPC title

• H04L63/14

  for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic · CPC title

• H04W88/16

  Gateway arrangements · CPC title