Method for the monitoring of system security in electronic devices

• US 20060026676A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: O'Donoghue, Niall
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A method, an electronic device and a computer program, for the monitoring of system security in an electronic device. In the method a security monitoring entity initiation event provided by a user is detected. Security information on at least one application process executing in the electronic device is gathered. The security information is presented on a display in the electronic device. After the presentation of the security information, the user is, for example, allowed to select at least one of the at least one application process and the at least one of the at least one application process is terminated.

Claims

1. A method for the monitoring of system security in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a security monitoring entity initiation event provided by a user;

gathering security information on at least one application process executing in said electronic device; and

presenting said security information on a display in said electronic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

allowing the user to select at least one of said at least one application process; and

terminating said at least one of said at least one application process.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said security monitoring entity initiation event is a predetermined sequence of key presses.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said sequence of key presses comprises the keys corresponding to characters T, R, U, S and T on a keypad associated with the electronic device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said security information comprises at least a trust status of said at least one application process.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said security information comprises data communication activity of said at least one application process.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said data communication activity comprises ports used.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said security information comprises security of communications engaged in by said at least one application process.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a mobile station.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a memory to store at least a security monitor entity and at least one application process;

a display to show a security monitor dialog;

a keypad;

a processor coupled to the memory, the display and the keypad, wherein the processor is configured

to detect a security monitoring entity initiation event provided by a user,

to gather security information on said at least one application process executing in said electronic device, and

to present said security information on said display.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to select at least one of said at least one application process, and to terminate said at least one of said at least one application process.

12. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said security monitoring entity initiation event is a predetermined sequence of key presses.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said sequence of key presses comprises keys corresponding to characters T, R, U, S and T on the keypad.

14. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said security information comprises at least a trust status of said at least one application process.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said security information comprises data communication activity of said at least one application process.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein said data communication activity comprises ports used.

17. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said security information comprises security of communications engaged in by said at least one application process.

18. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device is a mobile station.

19. A computer program comprising code adapted to perform the following steps when executed on a data-processing system:

detecting a security monitoring entity initiation event provided by a user;

gathering security information on at least one application process executing in an electronic device; and

presenting said security information on a display in said electronic device.

20. The computer program according to claim 19, wherein said computer program is stored on a computer readable medium.

21. The computer program according to claim 20, wherein said computer readable medium is a removable memory card.

22. The computer program according to claim 20, wherein said computer readable medium is a magnetic or an optical disk.