Systems and methods for securing data on mobile devices

• US 8,423,511 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatia, Yadvinder
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, NICHOLAS E
• Application Number:
  US13/178,068
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 707/654
• US Class Current: 707/654
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for securing data on mobile devices may include (1) identifying a first computing device and a second computing device paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the first computing device and the second computing device, (2) identifying a maximum expected distance between the first and second computing devices, (3) calculating a current distance between the first and second computing devices, (4) determining that the current distance between the first and second computing devices exceeds the maximum expected distance between the first and second computing devices, and (5) backing up data stored on the first computing device in response to the determination that the current distance exceeds the maximum expected distance. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for securing data on mobile devices, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

identifying a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device;

identifying a maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

calculating a current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

determining that the current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices exceeds the maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

backing up data stored on the first mobile computing device in response to the determination that the current distance exceeds the maximum expected distance.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising deleting the data stored on the first mobile computing device after backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises:

identifying sensitive data stored on the first mobile computing device;

designating the sensitive data for backup.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises:

identifying a prioritization for backing up files on the first computing first mobile computing device;

backing up the files in an order according to the prioritization.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the prioritization comprises at least one of:

prioritizing user-composed communications over other data;

prioritizing contact information over other data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the prioritization comprises prioritizing data associated with a user account on the first mobile computing device marked for prioritization.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises backing up the data to the second mobile computing device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises backing up the data to an online third-party storage service.

9. A system for securing data on mobile devices, the system comprising:

an identification module programmed to;

identify a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device;

identify a maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

a calculation module programmed to calculate a current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

a determination module programmed to determine that the current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices exceeds the maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

a backup module programmed to back up data stored on the first mobile computing device in response to the determination that the current distance exceeds the maximum expected distance;

at least one processor configured to execute the identification module, the calculation module, the determination module, and the backup module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the backup module is further programmed to delete the data stored on the first mobile computing device after backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the backup module is programmed to back up the data stored on the first mobile computing device by:

identifying sensitive data stored on the first mobile computing device;

designating the sensitive data for backup.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the backup module is programmed to back up the data stored on the first mobile computing device by:

identifying a prioritization for backing up files on the first mobile computing device;

backing up the files in an order according to the prioritization.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the prioritization comprises at least one of:

prioritizing user-composed communications over other data;

prioritizing contact information over other data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the prioritization comprises prioritizing data associated with a user account on the first mobile computing device marked for prioritization.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the backup module is programmed to back up the data stored on the first mobile computing device by backing up the data to the second mobile computing device.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the backup module is programmed to back up the data stored on the first mobile computing device by backing up the data to an online third-party storage service.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

identify a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device paired via a wireless communication technology that facilitates communication between the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device;

identify a maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

calculate a current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

determine that the current distance between the first and second mobile computing devices exceeds the maximum expected distance between the first and second mobile computing devices;

back up data stored on the first mobile computing device in response to the determination that the current distance exceeds the maximum expected distance.

18. The computer-storage-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions further cause the computing device to delete the data stored on the first mobile computing device after backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises:

identifying sensitive data stored on the first mobile computing device;

designating the sensitive data for backup.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein backing up the data stored on the first mobile computing device comprises:

identifying a prioritization for backing up files on the first mobile computing device;

backing up the files in an order according to the prioritization.