IP Library Granted Patent US 9,674,212
Granted Patent B2
US 9,674,212 · App. 14/690,677 · Granted Jun 6, 2017

Social network data removal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,674,212
App. No.
14/690,677
Granted
Jun 6, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a risk threshold from a protected social entity, and scanning data that is maintained across multiple social networks, where scanning includes identifying data that is associated with the protected social entity. One or more characteristics of the identified data is determined, and based on the one or more characteristics of the data identified across the multiple social networks, a risk to the protected social entity is determined. A request to a social network for the removal of the data associated with the risk is submitted.

Claims (56)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving risk thresholds from a protected social entity, including a first risk threshold associated with a first type of risk and a second risk threshold associated with a second type of risk, wherein the first risk threshold and the second risk threshold have different values;

scanning data that is maintained across multiple social networks, wherein scanning comprises identifying, by one or more processors, data that is associated with the protected social entity;

determining one or more characteristics of the identified data;

generating, for each of the one or more characteristics, a reference to the identified data that indicates the characteristic;

algorithmically comparing the one or more generated references to one or more known references, wherein the one or more known references include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk, and include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk;

determining, a first risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold;

determining, responsive to comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold, that the first risk score exceeds the first risk threshold;

initiating a security action;

determining, a second risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold; and

determining, responsive to comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold, that the second risk score does not exceed the second risk threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a social entity that originates the identified data that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk; and

submitting a request to the identified social entity for the removal of the identified data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein initiating a security action comprises submitting a request to a social network for the removal of the identified data, that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk, through an Application Programming Interface (API).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the request to the social network for the removal of the identified data that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk includes one or more reasons for the removal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a first risk threshold comprises receiving an objectionable content risk threshold that identifies one or more user selected content items that are assigned a level of risk by the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving risk thresholds from a protected social entity, including a first risk threshold associated with a first type of risk and a second risk threshold associated with a second type of risk comprises receiving a first threshold associated with a phishing risk and a second risk threshold associated with a malware risk.

7. A system comprising:

one or more processing devices; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media coupled to the one or more processing devices having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:

receiving risk thresholds from a protected social entity, including a first risk threshold associated with a first type of risk and a second risk threshold associated with a second type of risk, wherein the first risk threshold and the second risk threshold have different values;

scanning data that is maintained across multiple social networks, wherein scanning comprises identifying, by one or more processors, data that is associated with the protected social entity;

determining one or more characteristics of the identified data;

generating, for each of the one or more characteristics, a reference to the identified data that indicates the characteristic;

algorithmically comparing the one or more generated references to one or more known references, wherein the one or more known references include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk, and include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk;

determining, a first risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold;

determining, responsive to comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold, that the first risk score exceeds the first risk threshold;

initiating a security action;

determining, a second risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold; and

determining, responsive to comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold, that the second risk score does not exceed the second risk threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying a social entity that originates the identified data that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk; and

submitting a request to the identified social entity for the removal of the identified data.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein initiating a security action comprises submitting a request to a social network for the removal of the identified data, that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk, through an Application Programming Interface (API).

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the request to the social network for the removal of the identified data that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk includes one or more reasons for the removal.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein receiving a first risk threshold comprises receiving an objectionable content risk threshold that identifies one or more user selected content items that are assigned a level of risk by the user.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with a computer program, the program comprising instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving risk thresholds from a protected social entity, including a first risk threshold associated with a first type of risk and a second risk threshold associated with a second type of risk, wherein the first risk threshold and the second risk threshold have different values;

scanning data that is maintained across multiple social networks, wherein scanning comprises identifying, by one or more processors, data that is associated with the protected social entity;

determining one or more characteristics of the identified data;

generating, for each of the one or more characteristics, a reference to the identified data that indicates the characteristic;

algorithmically comparing the one or more generated references to one or more known references, wherein the one or more known references include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk, and include references to characteristics of identified data that have been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk;

determining, a first risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold;

determining, responsive to comparing the first risk score for the social entity to the first risk threshold, that the first risk score exceeds the first risk threshold;

initiating a security action;

determining, a second risk score for the social entity, based on the algorithmic comparison;

comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold; and

determining, responsive to comparing the second risk score for the social entity to the second risk threshold, that the second risk score does not exceed the second risk threshold.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein initiating a security action comprises submitting a request to a social network for the removal of the identified data, that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk, through an Application Programming Interface (API).

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the request to the social network for the removal of the identified data that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the first type of risk or that has been assigned a level of risk associated with the second type of risk includes one or more reasons for the removal.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2024
From: STIFEL BANK
To: ZEROFOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 067429/0328 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2024
From: ZEROFOX, INC.; LOOKINGGLASS CYBER SOLUTIONS, LLC; IDENTITY THEFT GUARD SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC
Reel/Frame 067396/0304 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2022
From: ORIX GROWTH CAPITAL, LLC
To: VIGILANTEATI, INC.
Reel/Frame 060821/0137 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2022
From: ORIX GROWTH CAPITAL, LLC
To: ZEROFOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 060821/0173 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE'S INFORMATION ON THE COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054878 FRAME: 0117. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 6, 2022
From: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
To: ZEROFOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 058652/0754 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2021
From: ZEROFOX, INC.
To: STIFEL BANK
Reel/Frame 055066/0916 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2021
From: ZEROFOX, INC.
To: ORIX GROWTH CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054906/0449 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: ZEROFOX, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 054878/0117 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2019
From: SILVER LAKE WATERMAN FUND II, L.P.
To: ZEROFOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 049607/0961 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2019
From: ZEROFOX, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 049602/0173 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2017
From: ZEROFOX, INC.
To: SILVER LAKE WATERMAN FUND II, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 042568/0264 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2015
From: FOSTER, JAMES C.; BLAIR, EVAN; CULLISON, CHRISTOPHER B.; FRANCIS, ROBERT
To: ZEROFOX, INC.
Reel/Frame 035467/0958 →