Method and apparatus which enable a computer user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer
First Claim
1. A method which enables a user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer, comprising:
- maintaining a first database which identifies files stored on the computer to be included in a safe zone;
maintaining a second database which defines authorized accesses to said files within said safe zone;
providing said computer with a filter;
upon a request for access to a file stored on said computer, utilizing said filter to access said first database and determine whether said file is within said safe zone; and
if said file is determined to be within said safe zone, accessing said second database to determine whether said request to access said file has been authorized.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method which enables a user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer may include several steps. One step involves maintaining a first database which identifies files stored on the computer to be included in a safe zone. Another step involves maintaining a second database which defines authorized accesses to the files within the safe zone. Yet another step involves providing the computer with a filter. Upon a request for access to a file stored on the computer, the filter accesses the first database and determines whether the file is within the safe zone. If the file is determined to be within the safe zone, the second database is accessed to determine whether the request to access the file has been authorized. If the request is determined to be unauthorized, access to the file is denied. If the request is determined to be authorized, access to the file is granted.
75 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method which enables a user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer, comprising:
-
maintaining a first database which identifies files stored on the computer to be included in a safe zone;
maintaining a second database which defines authorized accesses to said files within said safe zone;
providing said computer with a filter;
upon a request for access to a file stored on said computer, utilizing said filter to access said first database and determine whether said file is within said safe zone; and
if said file is determined to be within said safe zone, accessing said second database to determine whether said request to access said file has been authorized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
16. Apparatus which enables a user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer, comprising:
-
at least one computer readable storage media; and
computer readable program code stored on said at least one computer readable storage media, said computer readable program code comprising;
program code for maintaining a first database which identifies files stored on said computer to be included in a safe zone;
program code for maintaining a second database which defines authorized accesses to said files within said safe zone;
program code for providing said computer with a filter;
program code for utilizing said filter to access said first database and determine whether a file for which access has been requested is within said safe zone; and
program code for accessing said second database to determine whether said request to access said file has been authorized if said file is determined to be within said safe zone.
-
-
31. An apparatus which enables a user to prevent unauthorized access to files stored on a computer, comprising:
-
means for identifying files stored on the computer to be included in a safe zone;
means for defining authorized accesses to said files within said safe zone;
means for determining whether a file for which access has been requested is within said safe zone; and
means for determining whether said request to access said file has been authorized.
-
Specification