Security gateway for a regional/home network
View Patent ↗Systems, devices and methods to protect a regional network (e.g., home network) by monitoring devices connected to and attempting to connect to the regional network. Monitoring includes assessing and addressing security concerns regarding devices attempting to or available to connect to the regional network as well as monitoring configurations and activity of connected devices. Devices to monitor include: computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops, tablets, home appliances, smartphones, smart televisions, and any other type of device in the logical proximity of the regional network.
1. A machine-readable storage device or storage disk comprising instructions that, when executed by a programmable device, cause the programmable device to at least:
passively monitor network transmissions of a first network for a connection attempt by a first device to connect to the first network;
identify, based on the connection attempt, a new IP address that is not among a plurality of IP addresses associated with respective ones of a plurality of devices connected to the first network, the new IP address associated with the first device;
initiate a communication to a mobile subscriber device via a second network, the communication including an identity of the first device associated with the new IP address and device profiling information determined based on the new IP address, the communication initiated based on a determination as to whether the first device has previously connected to the first network, the communication to request authorization from the mobile subscriber device to allow connection of the first device to the first network, wherein the identity of the first device is determined using at least one of (i) a transport control protocol fingerprinting technique, or (ii) a hypertext transfer protocol fingerprinting technique;
receive a response to the communication from the mobile subscriber device via the second network, the response based on the identity and device profiling information included in the communication that was initiated to the mobile subscriber device, the response including one or more parameters to configure the first device to operate with the first network; and
allow the connection of the first device to the first network based on the response from the mobile subscriber device received via the second network, the response to authorize the connection.
2. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , wherein the second network includes a cellular network.
3. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , wherein the first network and the second network are not in direct communication with each other.
4. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , wherein the first network and second network are each in communication with an operator network.
5. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , wherein the first network is not protected with a network password.
6. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , further including instructions that, when executed by the programmable device, cause the programmable device to profile the first device after the connection to the first network to determine attributes of the first device.
7. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , further including instructions that, when executed by the programmable device, cause the programmable device to perform network protection functions for the first network, the network protection functions including one or more of: threat reputation protection, botnet protection, malware protection, parental control protection, and intrusion prevention.
8. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 1 , further including instructions that, when executed by the programmable device, cause the programmable device to:
establish a secure communication connection to an operator network; and
provide information about a plurality of devices connected to the first network to a device at the operator network, the information including endpoint security configurations for ones of the plurality of devices connected to the first network.
9. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 8 , further including instructions that, when executed by the programmable device, cause the programmable device to:
obtain, via the secure communication connection to the operator network, information pertaining to available updates of endpoint security configurations for one or more of the plurality of devices connected to the first network; and
initiate a second communication to the mobile subscriber device including information about the available updates.
10. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 9 , further including instructions that, when executed by the programmable device, cause the programmable device to:
obtain a second response to the second communication, the second response to indicate an update request for one or more of the plurality of devices connected to the first network; and
initiate an update of the endpoint security configuration corresponding to updates identified in the second response.
11. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk of claim 9 , wherein the first network includes at least one of: a home wireless network, an office wireless network, and a wireless network supporting a group or organization.
12. A system to monitor connections and connection attempts to a first network, the system comprising:
a network interface to connect to the first network;
memory including executable instructions; and
a processor to execute the instructions to at least:
detect a connection attempt by a first device to connect to the first network;
identify, based on the connection attempt, a new IP address that is not among a plurality of IP addresses associated with respective ones of a plurality of devices connected to the first network, the new IP address associated with the first device;
initiate a communication to a mobile subscriber device via a second network, the communication including an identity of the first device associated with the new IP address and device profiling information determined based on the new IP address, the communication initiated based on a determination as to whether the first device has previously connected to the first network, the communication to request authorization from the mobile subscriber device to allow connection of the first device to the first network, wherein the identity of the first device is determined using at least one of (i) a transport control protocol fingerprinting technique or (ii) a hypertext transfer protocol fingerprinting technique;
receive a response to the communication from the mobile subscriber device via the second network, the response based on the identity and device profiling information included in the communication that was initiated to the mobile subscriber device, the response including one or more parameters to configure the first device to operate with the first network; and
allow the connection of the first device to the first network based on the response from the mobile subscriber device received via the second network, the response to authorize the connection.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second network includes a cellular network.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first network and the second network are not in direct communication with each other.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first network and the second network are each in communication with an operator network.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first network is not protected with a network password.
17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is to profile the first device after the connection to the first network to determine attributes of the first device.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is to perform one or more of: threat reputation protection, botnet protection, malware protection, parental control protection, and intrusion prevention.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is to establish a secure communication connection to an operator network and provide information about a plurality of devices connected to the first network to a device at the operator network, the information including endpoint security configurations for corresponding ones of the plurality of devices connected to the first network.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is to:
obtain, via the secure communication connection to the operator network, information pertaining to available updates of endpoint security configurations for one or more of the plurality of devices connected to the first network; and
initiate a second communication to the mobile subscriber device including information about the available updates.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor is to:
obtain a second response to the second communication, the second response to indicate an update request for one or more of the plurality of devices connected to the first network; and
initiate an update of the endpoint security configuration corresponding to updates identified in the second response.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first network includes at least one of: a home wireless network, an office wireless network, and a wireless network supporting a group or organization.