IP Library Granted Patent US 11,943,253
Granted Patent B2
US 11,943,253 · App. 17/986,861 · Granted Mar 26, 2024

Systems and methods for determination of level of security to apply to a group before display of user data

Inventors: Greg Kras (Dunedin, FL); Chris Cline (St. Petersburg, FL)
Assignee: KnowBe4, Inc.
H04L63/1433H04L63/1483
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,943,253
App. No.
17/986,861
Granted
Mar 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are described for using secured groups for simulated phishing campaigns to obfuscate data for levels of privacy based on protected criteria classes. Initially, a group to resolve members of the group based on multiple users matching one or more group criteria is established. It is then determined that at least one criteria of the one or more criteria has been configured as one of multiple protected criteria classes. Responsive to the determination, the group is identified as a secured group. A query of the group is then executed to identify one or more users of the multiple users as members of the group based on the users matching the criteria of the secured group at the time of execution of the group and information of the one or more users resulting from the execution of the secured group is obfuscated in accordance with the protected criteria class.

Claims (34)

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by one or more servers, one or more users resulting from execution of a query of a group using one or more criteria of the group, the one or more criteria comprising at least a time range;

determining, by the one or more servers, that a portion of user data of the one or more users is protected based at least on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria and the portion of user data of the one or more users being protected; and

causing, by the one or more servers responsive to the determination, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users to be obfuscated while being displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time range includes a start time and an end time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time range includes an earliest time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time range includes a latest time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the group is further configured to identify one or more users as members of the group based on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria of the group.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the group is further configured to identify the one or more users as members of the group at time of execution of the query.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obfuscating, by the one or more servers, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users based at least on a protected criteria class of the user data.

8. A system comprising:

one or more servers comprising one or more processors, coupled to memory, and configured to:

identify one or more users resulting from execution of a query of a group using one or more criteria of the group, the one or more criteria comprising at least a time range;

determine that a portion of user data of the one or more users is protected based at least on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria and the portion of user data of the one or more users being protected; and

cause, responsive to the determination, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users to be obfuscated while being displayed.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the time range includes a start time and an end time.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the time range includes one of an earliest time or a latest time.

11. A method comprising:

identifying, by one or more servers, one or more users resulting from execution of a query of a group using one or more criteria of the group, the one or more criteria comprising at least a number of times an event has one of occurred or not occurred;

determining, by the one or more servers, that a portion of user data of the one or more users is protected based at least on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria and the portion of user data of the one or more users being protected; and

causing, by the one or more servers responsive to the determination, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users to be obfuscated while being displayed.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a user passing or failing a simulated phishing attack.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the event is based on involvement of a user with a training campaign.

14. The method of claim 11 , the event comprises an interaction of a user with a simulated phishing communication.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the group is further configured to identify one or more users as members of the group based on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria of the group.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the group is further configured to identify the one or more users as members of the group at time of execution of the query.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising obfuscating, by the one or more servers, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users based at least on a protected criteria class of the user data.

18. A system comprising:

one or more servers comprising one or more processors, coupled to memory, and configured to:

identify one or more users resulting from execution of a query of a group using one or more criteria of the group, the one or more criteria comprising at least a number of times an event has one of occurred or not occurred;

determine that a portion of user data of the one or more users is protected based at least on the one or more users meeting the one or more criteria and the portion of user data of the one or more users being protected; and

cause, responsive to the determination, at least the portion of the user data of the one or more users to be obfuscated while being displayed.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the event is based on involvement of a user with a training campaign.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the event comprises an interaction of a user with a simulated phishing communication.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 8, 2025
From: KNOWBE4, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072337/0277 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 062627/0001 Recorded Jul 28, 2025
From: BLUE OWL CREDIT INCOME CORP. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OWL ROCK CORE INCOME CORP.)
To: KNOWBE4, INC.
Reel/Frame 072108/0205 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2023
From: KNOWBE4, INC.
To: OWL ROCK CORE INCOME CORP., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062627/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2022
From: KRAS, GREG; CLINE, CHRIS
To: KNOWBE4, INC.
Reel/Frame 062154/0168 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17697882 · Mar 17, 2022
Continuation 17513072 · Oct 28, 2021
Provisional Application 63107625 · Oct 30, 2020
Related Publication 20230090453A1 · Mar 23, 2023