Apparatus and method for identifying and warning of synthetic identity behavior that reduces user privacy

• US 10,178,106 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anonyome Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anonyome Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Ashley, Paul, Shillingford, Steve, Readshaw, Neil, Gee, Simon, Clark, Greg, Le, Phong
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Peter C
• Application Number:
  US14/712,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00

Abstract

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium has instructions executed by a processor to collect mobile device environment parameters. Identity attributes including real identity attributes for a real individual and at least one set of synthetic identity attributes are stored. An electronic communication attempt by a designated entity corresponding to either the real identity attributes or the at least one set of synthetic identity attributes is monitored. The electronic communication attempt is analyzed in connection with the mobile device environment parameters and identity attributes to identify a rule transgression. A warning is supplied in connection with the electronic communication attempt in response to the rule transgression.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium with instructions executed by a processor to:

collect mobile device environment parameters;

store identity attributes including real identity attributes for a real individual and at least two sets of synthetic identity attributes each operative as a personal privacy proxy preventing access to the real identity attributes, wherein the at least two sets of synthetic identity attributes each include a synthetic identity name, a synthetic identity phone number and a synthetic identity email address;

monitor an electronic communication attempt by a designated entity corresponding to a selected synthetic identity that is displayed to the designated entity in a user interface;

analyze the electronic communication attempt in connection with the mobile device environment parameter and identity attributes to identify a rule transgression risking the privacy of the real identity attributes, wherein the rule transgression is the utilization of a real identity attribute of the real identity attributes for the real individual instead of a synthetic identity attribute of the selected synthetic identity, wherein the designated entity manually enters the real identity attributes in the user interface; and

supply a warning in real time in connection with the electronic communication attempt indicating the rule transgression.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the mobile device environment parameters include a network location, a geographic location and a time.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the identity attributes are selected from an avatar, a telephone number, an email address, a synthetic name, a birthdate and a gender.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the identity attributes are selected from a network location restriction, a geographic location restriction and a time restriction.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the identity attributes are selected from a web site restriction and a social media restriction.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the electronic communication attempt is selected from a voice call, a text message, a picture message, an email message, a social media interaction and a browsing interaction.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the instructions executed by the processor include instructions to automatically fill a web form with identity attributes for the designated entity.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to compare new contact information to existing contact information and selectively supply a warning of potential loss of identity compartmentalization.