IP Library Granted Patent US 10,289,839
Granted Patent B1
US 10,289,839 · App. 15/277,597 · Granted May 14, 2019

Systems and methods for preventing unauthorized access to computing devices implementing computer accessibility services

Inventors: Rachana Bedekar (Culver City, CA); Hai Zhao (Culver City, CA); Jiajia Liu (Culver City, CA)
Assignee: Symantec Corporation
G06F21/554G06F3/04883G06F21/604G06F3/04842
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,289,839
App. No.
15/277,597
Granted
May 14, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

The disclosed computer-implemented method for preventing unauthorized access to computing devices implementing computer accessibility services may include (i) detecting, at a client computing device, an instruction to perform a user interface action utilizing a computer accessibility service, (ii) determining, at the client computing device, whether the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by a user of the client computing device, and (iii) performing, at the client computing device, a security action in response to determining that the instruction was not triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Claims (46)

1. A computer-implemented method for preventing unauthorized access to computing devices implementing computer accessibility services, at least a portion of the method being performed by a client computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

detecting, at the client computing device, whether a computer accessibility service is initialized;

initiating, at the client computing device in response to detecting that the computer accessibility service was initialized, an exploration mode to monitor for touch events initiated by a user of the client computing device;

detecting, at the client computing device during the exploration mode, an instruction to perform a user interface action utilizing the computer accessibility service, wherein the exploration mode prevents the client computing device from automatically performing the user interface action;

determining, at the client computing device, whether the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user of the client computing device;

performing, at the client computing device, the user interface action in response to determining that the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user; and

performing, at the client computing device, a security action in response to determining that the instruction was not triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user; and

exiting, at the client computing device, the exploration mode after receiving input from the user authorizing the user interface action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the security action comprises blocking, at the client computing device, performance of the user interface action.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the security action comprises notifying, at the client computing device, the user that the instruction to perform the user interface action was detected.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein performing the security action further comprises requesting, at the client computing device, that the user provide input either authorizing or rejecting the user interface action.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein performing the security action further comprises:

performing, at the client computing device, the user interface action when input received from the user authorizes the user interface action; or

blocking, at the client computing device, performance of the user interface action when input received from the user rejects the user interface action.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the security action comprises identifying, at the client computing device, a malicious computer process that generated the instruction to perform the user interface action.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface action comprises an interaction with at least one element of a user interface presented on a display of the client computing device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface action comprises at least one of a click event and a gesture event.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch event initiated by the user is generated in response to an interaction between the user and at least one element of a user interface presented on a display of the client computing device.

10. A system for preventing unauthorized access to computing devices implementing computer accessibility services, the system comprising:

a determination module, stored in memory, that:

detects, at a client computing device, whether a computer accessibility service is initialized; and

initiates, at the client computing device in response to detecting that the computer accessibility service was initialized, an exploration mode to monitor for touch events initiated by a user of the client computing device;

a detection module, stored in memory, that detects, at the client computing device during the exploration mode, an instruction to perform a user interface action utilizing the computer accessibility service, wherein:

the exploration mode prevents the client computing device from automatically performing the user interface action;

the determination module determines, at the client computing device, whether the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user of the client computing device; and

the determination module allows the client computing device to perform the user interface action in response to determining that the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user;

a security module, stored in memory, that:

performs, at the client computing device, a security action in response to determining that the instruction was not triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user; and

exits, at the client computing device, the exploration mode after receiving input from the user authorizing the user interface action; and

at least one physical processor configured to execute the detection module, the determination module, and the security module.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein performing the security action comprises blocking, at the client computing device, the user interface action.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein performing the security action comprises notifying, at the client computing device, the user that the instruction to perform the user interface action was detected.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein performing the security action further comprises requesting, at the client computing device, that the user provide input either authorizing or rejecting the user interface action.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein performing the security action further comprises:

performing, at the client computing device, the user interface action when input received from the user authorizes the user interface action; or

blocking, at the client computing device, the user interface action when input received from the user rejects the user interface action.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein performing the security action comprises identifying, at the client computing device, a malicious computer process that generated the instruction to perform the user interface action.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the user interface action comprises an interaction with at least one element of a user interface presented on a display of the client computing device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a client computing device, cause the client computing device to:

detect, at the client computing device, whether a computer accessibility service is initialized;

initiate, at the client computing device in response to detecting that the computer accessibility service was initialized, an exploration mode to monitor for touch events initiated by a user of the client computing device;

detect, at the client computing device during the exploration mode, an instruction to perform a user interface action utilizing the computer accessibility service, wherein the exploration mode prevents the client computing device from automatically performing the user interface action;

determine, at the client computing device, whether the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user of the client computing device;

perform, at the client computing device, the user interface action in response to determining that the instruction was triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user;

perform, at the client computing device, a security action in response to determining that the instruction was not triggered based on a touch event initiated by the user; and

exit, at the client computing device, the exploration mode after receiving input from the user authorizing the user interface action.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 6, 2023
From: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
To: GEN DIGITAL INC.
Reel/Frame 062714/0605 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 050926 / FRAME 0560) Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061422/0371 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 13, 2022
From: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062220/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 14, 2020
From: SYMANTEC CORPORATION
To: NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Reel/Frame 051935/0228 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2019
From: SYMANTEC CORPORATION; BLUE COAT LLC; LIFELOCK, INC,; SYMANTEC OPERATING CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050926/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2016
From: BEDEKAR, RACHANA; ZHAO, HAI; LIU, JIAJIA
To: SYMANTEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039869/0566 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,314,402 US 12,513,364