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Automated classification of applications for mobile devices

  • US 9,152,694 B1
  • Filed: 02/19/2014
  • Issued: 10/06/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for automated classification of applications (“

  • apps”

    ) for mobile devices, comprising;

    a processor configured to;

    receive an application (“

    app”

    );

    perform an analysis of the app using a classification engine, wherein the performing of the analysis of the app comprises;

    extract data from the app, the data including an image, a string, a keyword and phrase, an uniform resource locator (URL), an email address, a phone number, a database, a Software Development Kit (SDK) in use, or any combination thereof; and

    classify the app based on the extracted data and app behavior, the app behavior including perform location tracking, access a contact or address book on a mobile device, access a social app or Application Programming Interface (API), access a device microphone or camera, access a feature or function of the mobile device or operating system platform in a manner that is not consistent or in compliance with permissions granted to the app by a user or the mobile device, or any combination thereof;

    determine an app category for the app based on the analysis performed using the classification engine, comprising;

    determine whether a network activity of the app matches a network activity of another app, wherein the network activity includes hostname, the URL, Internet Protocol (IP), or any combination thereof; and

    in the event that the network activity of the app matches the network activity of the other app, classify the app category for the app to be a category of the other app;

    determine whether the app is to be placed on a blacklist with respect to the determined app category based on the determined app category, comprising;

    compare the app behavior with a list of unsafe behaviors associated the app category, wherein one behavior is in a list of unsafe behaviors associated with a first app category and the same one behavior is in a list of safe behaviors associated with a second app category; and

    in the event that the app behavior matches a behavior on the list of unsafe behaviors associated the app category, classify the app to be placed on the blacklist with respect to the app category; and

    in the event that a new version of the app has new content or behavior that changes a classification of the app, violates an app policy, or a combination thereof, create a new entry within a database to record how the app has changed in the new version and how the new content or behavior has triggered a new or additional app classification, a new or additional app policy violation, or a combination thereof; and

    a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

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