Techniques for protecting against unauthorized tech support calls

• US 10,325,093 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Anudeep, Sawant, Vipul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Harunur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Sakinah White
• Application Number:
  US15/372,012
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 726 23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/577 Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5175 Call or contact centers supervision arrangements

Abstract

Techniques for protecting against unauthorized technique support calls are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for protecting against unauthorized technique support calls including one or more computer processors. The one or more computer processors may be configured to register a client security application installed on a client device. The client security application may be associated with a mobile device. The client device may be separate from the mobile device. The one or more computer processors may further be configured to receive a notification to start monitoring the client device. The one or more computer processors may further be configured to monitor activities of the client device. The one or more computer processors may further be configured to alert a user of the client device for security risks associated with the activities.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for protecting against unauthorized tech support voice calls, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

registering a client security application installed on a client computing device, wherein the client security application is associated with a mobile computing device such that the client security application and a mobile security application installed on the mobile computing device share a common license key, wherein the client computing device is separate from the mobile computing device;

receiving a notification to start monitoring the client computing device, the notification being triggered after a voice call commences on the mobile computing device;

monitoring activities of the client computing device for a change to the client computing device that presents security risks to the client computing device;

alerting a user of the client computing device of the security risks to the client computing device associated with the activities; and

preventing one or more of the activities of the client computing device to protect the client computing device from security risks associated with the one or more prevented activities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a phone number of the voice call is not recognized by the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the security risks comprise launching an application.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the application comprises at least one of Windows Alert Viewer, System Properties or Configurations, or Remote Desktop.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computing device is at least one of a desktop or a laptop.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alerting of the user includes visually alerting the user of the client computing device of the security risks to the client computing device associated with the activities.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the visually alerting of the user includes visually displaying a pop-up alert window on the client computing device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer-readable program for protecting against unauthorized tech support voice calls, comprising:

computer-readable instructions to register a client security application installed on a client computing device, wherein the client security application is associated with a mobile computing device such that the client security application and a mobile security application installed on the mobile computing device share a common license key, wherein the client computing device is separate from the mobile computing device;

computer-readable instructions to receive a notification to start monitoring the client computing device, the notification being triggered after a voice call commences on the mobile computing device;

computer-readable instructions to monitor activities of the client computing device for a change to the client computing device that presents security risks to the client computing device;

computer-readable instructions to alert a user of the client computing device of the security risks to the client computing device associated with the activities; and

computer-readable instructions to prevent one or more of the activities of the client computing device to protect the client computing device from security risks associated with the one or more prevented activities.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein a phone number of the voice call is not recognized by the mobile computing device.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the security risks comprise launching an application.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the application comprises at least one of Windows Alert Viewer, System Properties or Configurations, or Remote Desktop.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 8, wherein the alerting of the user includes visually alerting the user of the client computing device of the security risks to the client computing device associated with the activities.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the visually alerting of the user includes visually displaying a pop-up alert window on the client computing device.