MANAGING SENSITIVE INFORMATION

• US 20140208225A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Anand, Srinath
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/46 by designing passwords or checking the strength of passwords
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A method, system or computer usable program product for securing pages that contain sensitive information including utilizing a processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on a device, responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user, and requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display.

Claims

1. A method for securing pages that contain sensitive information comprising:

utilizing a processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on a device;

responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user; and

requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the page is selected from a group consisting of an application, a data item, a webpage, and a displayed screen.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein more than one page may be selected.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user interface includes a user selectable security feature for each page selected.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user selectable security feature is selected from the group of providing a specific password for the page, encrypting the page, and hiding an icon of the page unless the password is provided.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a symbol overlay is added to an icon of a selected page.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile device selected from a group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, and a notebook.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein a symbol overlay is added to an icon of a selected page and wherein the device is a mobile device selected from a group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, and a notebook.

9. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for use in securing pages that contain sensitive information, the computer usable program product comprising code for performing the steps of:

utilizing a processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on a device;

responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user; and

requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display.

10. The computer usable program product of claim 9 wherein the page is selected from a group consisting of an application, a data item, a webpage, and a displayed screen.

11. The computer usable program product of claim 10 wherein more than one page may be selected.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 11 wherein the user interface includes a user selectable security feature for each page selected.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 12 wherein the user selectable security feature is selected from the group of providing a specific password for the page, encrypting the page, and hiding an icon of the page unless the password is provided.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 9 wherein a symbol overlay is added to an icon of a selected page.

15. A data processing system for securing pages that contain sensitive information, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing program instructions which when executed by the processor execute the steps of;

utilizing the processor to provide a user interface on a display allowing a user to select a page as password protected on the data processing system;

responsive to a user utilizing the UI to select the page as password protected, receiving a password from the user; and

requiring entry of the password before displaying the page on the display.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the page is selected from a group consisting of an application, a data item, a webpage, and a displayed screen.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 wherein more than one page may be selected.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 wherein the user interface includes a user selectable security feature for each page selected.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein the user selectable security feature is selected from the group of providing a specific password for the page, encrypting the page, and hiding an icon of the page unless the password is provided.

20. The data processing system of claim 15 wherein the data processing system is a mobile device selected from a group consisting of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, and a notebook.