Secure desktop environment for unsophisticated computer users
First Claim
1. Method for limiting access to a computer'"'"'s resources to a number of predefined secure programs and resources, comprising disabling predefined keyboard input from a keyboard or similar input device in order to prevent input that starts or interacts with insecure programs or accesses insecure resources;
- preventing user interaction with insecure programs or resources by making all windows associated with already running programs incapable of receiving input from user input devices; and
generating a user interface to be presented on screen, said interface presenting the user with representations of computer programs and resources that are defined as secure.
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Abstract
The invention presents a method for preventing an unsophisticated user, such as a small child, from access programs or resources on a computer that may allow the user to cause harm to the computer system. This is done by limiting access to the computer'"'"'s resources to a number of predefined secure programs and resources.
First, a number of predefined keystrokes or keystrokes combinations are disabled as input from a keyboard or similar input device in order to prevent input that starts or interacts with insecure programs or accesses insecure resources. In addition, user interaction with insecure programs or resources is prevented by making all windows associated with already running programs incapable of receiving input from user input devices, preferably by hiding them so they cannot appear on the computer screen. The user is then presented with a secure user interface, said interface presenting the user with representations of computer programs and resources that are defined as secure.
152 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Method for limiting access to a computer'"'"'s resources to a number of predefined secure programs and resources, comprising
disabling predefined keyboard input from a keyboard or similar input device in order to prevent input that starts or interacts with insecure programs or accesses insecure resources; -
preventing user interaction with insecure programs or resources by making all windows associated with already running programs incapable of receiving input from user input devices; and
generating a user interface to be presented on screen, said interface presenting the user with representations of computer programs and resources that are defined as secure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Computer system capable of operating in a secure mode that provides access only to a number of predefined secure programs and resources, comprising
a keyboard filter module installed on the system and capable of disabling predefined keyboard input from a keyboard or similar input device, a window interaction disabling module installed on the system and capable of disabling interaction between a user input device and insecure programs or resources by making all windows associated with already running programs incapable of receiving input from user input devices; - and
a graphical user interface module that generates representations of computer programs and resources that are defined as secure for representation on the display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification