Trusted network entity secure connectivity
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, processes, and devices for trusted network entity secure connectivity. Some system and method embodiments include a network of trusted network entities, such as devices and processes, which unlock themselves and their services only when additional security checks are applied for any of the available radio devices and processes on the network in the vicinity. Such embodiments operate to provide an additional level of security to the trusted network entity communication and approval to unlock each other.
1. A method comprising:
maintaining, by a first network entity, a trusted network entities list of network entities to which the first network entity is authorized to connect;
scanning, by the first network entity, a network for all network entities on the network and comparing each network entity with the trusted network entities list to ensure each network entity on the network is present on the trusted network entities list;
identifying a second network entity is on the network and not present on the trusted network entities list; and
transmitting, by the first network entity, second network entity information to other network entities included on the trusted network entities list;
receiving from at least one of the other network entities a communication of data indicating that the at least one of the other network entities has previously paired with the second network entity;
updating the trusted network entities list with the second network entity information to identify the second network entity as a new trusted network entity;
adding the second network entity to the trusted network entities list when a reply is received from network entity indicating the second network entity is trusted; and
locking the first network entity and transmitting a lock message to other network entities included on the network entities list when a not-trusted reply is received or no reply is received.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: locking the first network entity and transmitting a lock message to other network entities included on the network entities list when a not-trusted reply is received or no reply is received.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one network entity included on the trusted network entities list is a hardware device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one network entity included on the trusted network entities list is a software process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is a wireless local area network.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is a network of devices that operate according the network according to a defined standards short-range radio network with devices having a range of up to approximately 100 meters.
7. A network entity comprising:
a network interface device;
a data store holding a trusted network entities list; and
a scanner-handshake module including instructions executable to perform data processing activities comprising:
identifying a foreign network entity by the scanner-handshake module as being connected to a network and not present on the trusted network entities list;
transmitting foreign network entity information to other network entities included on the trusted network entities list;
receiving from at least one of the other network entities a response indicating that the at least one of the other network entities has previously paired with the foreign network entity;
updating the trusted network entities list with the foreign network entity information to identify the foreign network entity as a new trusted network entity;
adding the foreign network entity to the trusted network entities list when a reply is received from a trusted network entity indicating the foreign network entity is trusted; and
when a not-trusted reply is received or no reply is received, locking the network entity and transmitting a lock message to the trusted network entities included on the trusted network entities list;
wherein the network entity is a hardware device and the scanner-handshake module is a platform level service of the hardware device.
8. The network entity of claim 7 , further comprising:
wherein the foreign network entity is identified by receipt of data by the network entity from the foreign network entity via the network interface device; and
the transmitting of the foreign network entity information to other network entities included on the trusted network entities list is performed by transmitting data to the other network entities via the network interface device.
9. The network entity of claim 8 , wherein the network interface device operates according to a defined standards-based short-range radio network with devices having a range of up to approximately 100 meters.
10. The network entity of claim 7 , wherein the scanner-handshake module is a software portion of a software process that executes on a processor of a computing device.