IP Library Granted Patent US 9,596,604
Granted Patent B2
US 9,596,604 · App. 14/864,326 · Granted Mar 14, 2017

Method and system for enhanced wireless network security

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,596,604
App. No.
14/864,326
Granted
Mar 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for securing wireless network devices improves the security of wireless networks and devices, such as Bluetooth networks and devices, to prevent security attacks on and hacking of such networks and devices. A method for secure wireless communications, comprises the steps of requesting a connection with a wireless device, determining whether the wireless device is trusted, determining a security policy of the wireless device, and establishing a connection with the wireless device if the wireless device is trusted and if the security policy of the wireless device is as expected.

Claims (60)

1. A wireless device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory, coupled to the one or more processors, on which are stored instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

request a connection with a second wireless device;

determine whether the second wireless device has been previously paired with the wireless device;

determine a security policy of the second wireless device, comprising instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

check and control file transfers,

check implementation of traffic handling policies;

check the second wireless device for an installed scanning engine;

check the second wireless device for a level and a version of the scanning engine; and

check what was the kind of pairing that happened and what was the data shared between the wireless device and the second wireless device; and

bypass authentication by the wireless device and establish a connection with the second wireless device if the second wireless device has been previously paired with the wireless device and if the security policy of the second wireless device is as expected.

2. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to pair the second wireless device with the wireless device.

3. The wireless device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to pair the second wireless device with the wireless device comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

obtain a passkey or PIN from the wireless device;

transmit the passkey or PIN to the second wireless device; and

receive by the wireless device from the second wireless device an indication that the transmitted passkey or PIN matches a passkey or PIN of the second wireless device.

4. The wireless device of claim 2 , wherein the second wireless device comprises a Bluetooth device.

5. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to determine a security policy of the second wireless device further comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

check what kind of pairing had previously occurred between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

6. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the processors to establish a connection between the wireless device and the second wireless device comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the processors to:

obtain a passkey or PIN from the wireless device;

transmit the passkey or PIN to the second wireless device; and

receive by the wireless device from the second wireless device an indication that the transmitted passkey or PIN matches a passkey or PIN of the second wireless device.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless device comprises a Bluetooth device.

8. A non-transitory machine readable medium, on which are stored instructions, comprising instructions that when executed cause a wireless device to:

request a connection with a second wireless device;

determine whether the second wireless device has been previously paired with the first wireless device;

determine a security policy of the second wireless device, comprising instructions that when executed the wireless device to:

check and control file transfers,

check implementation of traffic handling policies;

check the second wireless device for an installed scanning engine;

check the second wireless device for a level and a version of the scanning engine; and

check what was the kind of pairing that happened and what was the data shared between the wireless device and the second wireless device; and

bypass authentication by the wireless device and establish a connection with the second wireless device if the second wireless device has been previously paired with the wireless device and if the security policy of the second wireless device is as expected.

9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to pair the second wireless device with the wireless device.

10. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to pair the second wireless device with the wireless device comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

obtain a passkey or PIN from the wireless device;

transmit the passkey or PIN to the second wireless device; and

receive by the wireless device from the second wireless device an indication that the transmitted passkey or PIN matches a passkey or PIN of the second wireless device.

11. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to determine a security policy of the second wireless device further comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the one or more processors to:

check what kind of pairing had previously occurred between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

12. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that when executed cause one or more of the processors to establish a connection between the wireless device and the second wireless device comprise instructions that when executed cause one or more of the processors to:

obtain a passkey or PIN from the wireless device;

transmit the passkey or PIN to the second wireless device; and

receive by the wireless device from the second wireless device an indication that the transmitted passkey or PIN matches a passkey or PIN of the second wireless device.

13. A method for secure wireless communication, comprising:

requesting, by a first wireless device, a connection with a second wireless device;

determining, by the first wireless device, whether the second wireless device has been previously paired with the first wireless device;

determining, by the first wireless device, a security policy of the second wireless device, comprising:

checking and controlling file transfers,

checking implementation of traffic handling policies;

checking the second wireless device for a level and a version of an installed scanning engine;

checking what was the kind of pairing that happened and what was the data shared between the wireless device and the second wireless device; and

bypassing authentication, by the first wireless device, and establishing a connection with the second wireless device if the second wireless device has been previously paired with the first wireless device and if the security policy of the second wireless device is as expected.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein establishing a connection between the first wireless device and the second wireless device comprises:

obtaining a passkey or PIN from the first wireless device;

transmitting the passkey or PIN to the second wireless device; and

receiving by the first wireless device from the second wireless device an indication that the transmitted passkey or PIN matches a passkey or PIN of the second wireless device.

15. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the second wireless device comprises a Bluetooth device.

Assignments (9)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PATENT TITLES AND REMOVE DUPLICATES IN THE SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059354 FRAME: 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060792/0307 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059354/0335 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045056/0676 Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 059354/0213 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045055/0786 Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 054238/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045056 FRAME 0676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 054206/0593 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045055 FRAME 786. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055854/0047 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045055/0786 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 045056/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Aug 24, 2017
From: MCAFEE, INC.
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 043665/0918 →