Method and system for encryption of web browser cache

• US 7,188,240 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Herman, Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Al T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To; Jennifer N.
• Application Number:
  US09/353,974
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 713150-194, 713/201, 711/3, 709/200, 709/213, 709/222, 718100-108
• US Class Current: 713/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6263 during internet communication, e.g. revealing personal data from cookies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

A user normally logs on to a distributed network, such as the user'"'"'s Internet service, using the user'"'"'s unique login name and password. The user must then be authorized to write to and read from encrypted information stored in the browser defined cache. The browser cache may be defined as either system memory or disk memory. The user might be required to enter a second password. Information requested by the user is then encrypted, either as a browser function or as an application function of the memory portion defined by the browser. Once authorized by the browser, the user can both read and write to the encrypted information in the cache. Thus, as the user browses network nodes or web pages on a network, the pages are encrypted by the browser before they are cached. Information requested by the user and stored in the cache is first decrypted by the browser and then displayed by the browser.

Claims

1. A data processing implemented method for securing information stored in a browser cache associated with a browser, the method comprising:

initiating a session with the browser;

requesting a web page;

receiving the web page;

encrypting the web page using encryption provided by the browser for the browser cache;

wherein the encrypting further comprises;

presenting at least one browser implemented encryption method and at least one non-browser implemented encryption method;

selecting one of the presented encryption methods; and

performing the encryption of the web page using the selected method; and

caching the web page.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting the web page further comprises coding the web page using a browser supported encryption algorithm.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting the web page further comprises coding the web page using an encryption application not supported by the browser.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting the web page further comprises selecting a browser supported encryption algorithm from a plurality of browser supported encryption algorithms for encrypting the web page.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of caching the web page further comprises providing a remote cache location.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein one of the browser and the browser cache is password protected from unauthorized users.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encrypting the web page further comprises defining a path for storing the web page that directs the web page to memory locations for encrypted data.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein web page information that is cached and then paged is paged as encrypted web page information.

22. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the browser cache includes both system memory cache and disk memory cache.

9. A data processing implemented method for securing information stored on a browser cache, the method comprising:

opening an application using a browser;

performing an application specific function on the application using the browser, wherein application specific information is produced;

encrypting the application specific information using encryption provided by the browser for the browser cache;

wherein the encrypting further comprises;

presenting at least one browser implemented encryption method and at least one non-browser implemented encryption method;

selecting one of the presented encryption methods; and

performing the encryption of the web page using the selected method; and

caching the application specific information.

10. A data processing implemented method for securing information stored in a browser cache associated with a browser, the method comprising:

initiating a session with the browser;

decrypting data contained in the browser cache using decryption provided by the browser for the browser cache, wherein the decrypted data is associated with information content stored in the browser cache;

requesting information stored in the browser cache;

checking the decrypted data for requested information; and

decrypting additional data contained in the browser cache using the decryption provided by the browser for the browser cache, wherein the decrypted data is the requested information.

11. A data processing system for securing information stored in a browser cache associated with a browser, the system comprising:

initiating means for initiating a session with the browser;

requesting means for requesting a web page;

receiving means for receiving the web page;

encrypting means for encrypting the web page using encryption provided by the browser for the browser cache;

wherein the encrypting means further comprises;

presenting means for presenting at least one browser implemented encryption method and at least one non-browser implemented encryption method;

selecting means for selecting one of the presented encryption methods; and

performing means for performing the encryption of the web page using the selected method; and

caching means for caching the web page.

12. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the encrypting means for encrypting the web page further comprises coding the web page using a browser supported encryption algorithm.

13. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the encrypting means for encrypting the web page further comprises coding the web page using an encryption application not supported by the browser.

14. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the encrypting means for encrypting the web page further comprises selecting a browser supported encryption algorithm from a plurality of browser supported encryption algorithms for encrypting the web page.

15. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the caching means for caching the web page further comprises providing a remote cache location.

16. The system recited in claim 11, wherein one of the browser and the browser cache is password protected from unauthorized users.

17. The system recited in claim 11, wherein the encrypting means for encrypting the web page further comprises defining a path for storing the web page which directs the web page to memory locations for encrypted data.

18. The system recited in claim 11, wherein web page information that is cached and then paged is paged as encrypted web page information.

19. A data processing system for securing information stored on a browser cache, the system comprising:

opening means for opening an application using a browser;

performing means for performing an application specific function on the application using the browser, wherein application specific information is produced;

encrypting means for encrypting the application specific information using encryption provided by the browser for the browser cache;

wherein the encrypting means further comprises;

presenting means for presenting at least one browser implemented encryption method and at least one non-browser implemented encryption method;

selecting means for selecting one of the presented encryption methods, and

performing means for performing the encryption of the web page using the selected method; and

caching means for caching the application specific information.

20. A data processing system for securing information stored in a browser cache associated with a browser, the system comprising:

initiating means for initiating a session with the browser;

decrypting means for decrypting data contained in the browser cache using decryption provided by the browser for the browser cache, wherein the decrypted data is associated with information content stored in the browser cache;

requesting means for requesting information stored in the browser cache;

checking means for checking the decrypting data for requested information; and

decrypting means for decrypting additional data contained in the browser cache using the decryption provided by the browser for the browser cache, wherein the decrypted data is the requested information.

21. A computer program product on a computer readable medium for securing information stored in a browser cache associated with a browser comprising:

initiating instructions for initiating a session with the browser;

requesting instructions for requesting a web page;

receiving instructions for receiving the web page;

encrypting instructions for encrypting the web page using encryption provided by the browser for the browser cache;

wherein the encrypting instructions further comprise;

presenting instructions for presenting at least one browser implemented encryption method and at least one non-browser implemented encryption method;

selecting instructions for selecting one of the presented encryption methods; and

performing instructions for performing the encryption of the web page using the selected method; and

caching instructions for caching the web page.