System and method for conducting secure transactions

A system and method of conducting a transaction comprising accepting transaction information from a user, producing a customized statement, the customized statement relating to at least a portion of the transaction information and including a challenge to the user, and sending the user an obscured representation of the customized statement. The system and method may accept from the user a response to the challenge. The system and method may further allow the transaction to proceed if the response is correct and prevent the transaction from proceeding if the response is incorrect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to security mechanisms for conducting secure transactions over a potentially non-secure channel, such as the Internet.

BACKGROUND

Sophisticated hacking systems threaten current security mechanisms for conducting transactions over non-secure channels. Crimeware such as a Trojan Horse, may intercept the transfer of data, modify it, and/or cause the data to be sent to a user that is not the identified user, for example, a hacker or hacking system. Such interceptions may be, for example, the result of transaction injection attacks or transaction substitution attacks. Known security mechanisms that provide for authentication of user identity (e.g., one- or two-factor authentication) may not solve such problems and others. A need therefore exists to develop more effective security mechanisms for conducting secure transactions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention may provide a system and method for conducting transactions including accepting transaction information from a user, producing a customized statement, and sending a user an obscured representation of the customized statement. In some embodiments, the customized statement may relate to at least a portion of the transaction information and/or may include a challenge to a user. In some embodiments, the customized statement may be obscured or distorted in such a manner as make it difficult for crimeware to decipher or interpret and respond.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn accurately or to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity or several physical components included in one functional block or element. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Moreover, some of the blocks depicted in the drawings may be combined into a single function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The processes presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform embodiments of a method according to embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of a structure for a variety of these systems appear from the description herein. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussions herein, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing data processing or manipulation terms such as “processing”, “computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, or the like, typically refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a system and method for conducting secure or confidential transactions over non-secure channels, for example, bank websites. Transactions may include, for example, the transfer of information, currency, goods, rights to services, etc. Embodiments of the invention may provide a system and method for securely verifying the authenticity of users communicating over non-secure channels and/or the details of a desired transaction, while reducing the risk of interception, substitution and/or modification of sensitive or confidential information. A channel, for example, may refer to any pathway used to convey information from a transmitter to a receiver. It will be understood that while the discussion centers around non-secure channels, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented over secure channels as well as non-secure channels.

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a transaction system2for conducting secure transactions, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Transaction system2may include a transaction server4for executing remote transactions, a device6, for example, for a user to communicate with transaction server4for conducting transaction.

Transaction server4may communicate with device6over communication networks10, such as the Internet and/or other networks. Transaction server4may generate and support client side interfaces, for example, via a website, using a GUI26, for example, for supporting online communications. Such communication may or may not be secure.

Device6may include an output unit12and an input unit16for communicating with transaction server4. The user may provide personal information and/or access information to transaction server4, using output unit12and input unit16. Data sent by transaction server4to device6, for example, over communications network10, may be displayed and accessed by users using client side interfaces on a display18. Data accepted by transaction server4from device6may be provided by users by entering information, for example, using controls14, into the client side interface. Controls14may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-pad, a scanner or a transmitter such as the mouthpiece of a telephone handset. Display18may include, for example, a monitor, a printer or a receiver such as the earpiece of a telephone handset.

A non-exhaustive list of examples of device6includes a computing system, such as a personal computer, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a terminal, a workstation, a server computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a tablet computer, a network device, or a network, a telephone or telephone system, or the like. Devices6may further include, for example, a processor20, a storage unit22, and an operating system24. Device6may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware components and/or software components.

Processor20may include, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more controllers, or any suitable specific and/or general and/or multi-purpose processor or micro-processor or controller. Database5and storage unit22may include memory units, for example, for storing Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), or other suitable memory systems. Operating system24may include, for example, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, Apple OS, Solaris, Sun-OS, HP-UX, or other suitable operating systems. It is noted that device6, output unit12, input unit16, controls14, display18, processor20, storage unit22, and/or operating system24may include other suitable components and/or implementations as is known in the art.

Transaction server4may accept a one or a number of sets of identification information, and/or one or a set of transaction information, for example, provided by a user. Identification information may include partial or complete details for identifying a user, for example, a user name, a password, a name of a first grade teacher, and/or the last four numbers of a user's account, etc. For example, identification information may include one- or two-factor authentication. Some forms of identification information may be provided by users, for example, by possessing a hardware token, or smart card, or by entering appropriate codes, user names, passwords, serial numbers or any other suitable forms of identification information, into the client side interfaces or by other suitable actions.

Transaction information may specify partial or complete transaction details for conducting a desired transaction, for example, an amount of money, a source and/or destination for the money, identified by name, account number, or otherwise. For example, “transfer $100.00 to Account Number XXXXX123” includes transaction information.

Transaction server4, such as a bank website server, may accept and/or verify the identification information and/or transaction information provided by a user. In one embodiment, transaction server4may store user identification and transaction information, for example, for example, in database5, to be used, for example, for bank records or conducting a transaction using the information at a later time. Access to database5may be protected by security mechanisms, as is known in the art.

In some embodiments, the transaction information may be sent over a potentially non-secure channel. There may be concern that communication between the user and transaction server4may be intercepted and possibly corrupted, for example, by hackers and/or hacking software or systems. Thus, for example, crimeware located or installed between the user, including on the user's computer, and the transaction server, may intercept the communication, modify it, particularly transaction details, and have the falsified transaction executed. In such case, the user may not known that the transaction information has been modified.

According to embodiments of the invention, transaction server4may send a user a customized statement that in some embodiments recites, incorporates or otherwise confirms at least a portion of the transaction information. The statement may be, include or otherwise be associated with a challenge. In order to execute the desired transaction, transaction server4may require that the user provides a correct response to the challenge, thereby indicating confirmation of the transaction information.

The challenge may include a customized statement that includes at least a portion of the transaction information for verification by the user's correct response to the challenge. In some embodiments, the challenge may draw upon personal or confidential identity information, such that substantially only the identified user may correctly respond. In some embodiments, such a challenge may include full or partial transaction information and/or a derivation, categorization or rearrangement thereof. For example, as depicted inFIG. 3A, the customized statement310may include alphanumeric characters comprising at least a portion of the transaction information311and a challenge312, such as, “You are attempting to transfer $100.00 to Account Number XXXXX123. Verify by providing the first five digits in your account number”. In some embodiments, the customized statement used may be selected randomly from among a plurality of suitable challenges so that a correct response may not be predicted by a hacker or hacking system. For example, the challenge may randomly select a number of digits from an account number, or the placement of the required digits in the account number may be randomly selected. Additionally or alternatively, the challenge may call for a randomly selected challenge pertaining to the transaction information. Selecting randomly may include selecting according to a suitable randomization algorithm.

In some embodiments of the invention, the challenge may be designed so that substantially only a human user may be capable of comprehending, perceiving, reading, hearing, deciphering, or otherwise being able to answer the question. In some embodiments, the challenge may require personal information; in some embodiments, the challenge may require transaction information; in some embodiments, the challenge may display transaction information for confirmation by the user. Completion of the transaction may require the user to provide the correct response to the challenge.

According to embodiments of the invention, the customized statement, including, for example, transaction information for verification and/or the challenge itself may be presented to the user on a suitable display in an obscured fashion, so that substantially only a human may be capable of readily recognizing it. Thus, for example, in the event that crimeware has intercepted and modified the user's requested transaction, e.g., by altering the recipient account or the transaction amount, it may also attempt to intercept a request for confirmation of the falsified transaction and present it to the user modified to reflect the original desired transaction, leading the user to believe he is confining the original recipient account, while in reality, lie is confirming the falsified transaction. This obfuscation of the customized statement and/or the challenge may be calculated to prevent the crimeware from intercepting and/or modifying confirmation of the transaction information. Additionally or alternately, the obfuscation may be used to obscure the randomly selected challenge, such that crimeware cannot answer the challenge on behalf of the user. Obscuring the customized statement may include any manipulation of the information, for example, such that substantially only a human may readily recognize. Since an automated hacker or hacking system may not readily recognize the obscured customized statement, the hacker or hacking system may not recognize the challenge, or may be likely to provide an incorrect response. Transaction server4may identify the incorrect response and may for example halt the transaction.

Various mechanisms may be used to reduce the likelihood that crimeware intercepting the challenge may be able to decipher the challenge, answer the challenge and/or modify the challenge so as to fool the user into confirming a falsified transaction. One embodiment of the invention may utilize a reverse Turing test, for example, the Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (“CAPTCHA”™). For example, the customized statement may comprise a challenge, which may include image data comprising distorted data embedded therein, where the distorted data relates to transaction information provided by an identified user and/or the challenge to be answered in order to confirm the transaction. For example, as depicted inFIG. 3B, the distorted data may depict a distorted image representation of the customized statement320, which may for example, include text or alphanumeric characters comprising at least a portion of the transaction information321and a challenge322, such as, “You are attempting to transfer $100.00 to Account Number XXXXX123. Verify by providing the first five digits in your account number”. Another mechanism may be an audio distortion of the customized statement.

Transaction server4may accept a response to the distorted data provided by a user, for example, via output unit12. In some embodiments, transaction server4may generate a correct response to the challenge to determine if the response provided by the user is correct. The correct response may be substantially accurate, for example, known to be correct or verified by the identified user. For example, transaction server4may compare the generated correct response with the response provided by the user. If the responses sufficiently match, transaction server4may execute the desired transaction. If the responses do not sufficiently match, the transaction server may not conduct the desired transaction and may execute additional security or anti-fraud measures, for example, investigating the identity of the user that provided the incorrect response, notifying the account owner, requesting that the user telephone the service provider, or halting subsequent transactions from the account or from the user's computer until a lifting mechanism resets the account to secure levels.

In some embodiments, the correct response may include transaction information, or a derivation thereof, that substantially only the identified user may be capable of providing. In embodiments where partial transaction information is initially provided, the correct response may include the remainder of the transaction information necessary to specify and/or conduct the desired transaction. For example, in reference to an example above, transaction information may only partially specify the identified user's account number, for example, “Account Number XXXXX123”. A correct response may include the remaining first five digits of the account number. In one embodiment, transaction server4may have access to bank account records and may compare the first five digits provided in the response, to the first five digits of the appropriate account number accessed from the identified user's bank records. In other embodiments, transaction server4need not have access to the identified user's bank account records. For example, transaction server4may attempt to execute the desired transaction according to the transaction information provided by the user in response to the challenge. A successful attempt may indicate that the transaction information is correct. and thus, transaction server4may execute the desired transaction. Accordingly, a failed attempt to execute the desired transaction may indicate that the transaction information is incorrect and transaction server4may halt the transaction and execute further security mechanisms, as is known in the art.

In other embodiments, if the transaction information initially provided by the identified user is fully complete, the correct response may include a reiteration of some or all of the complete transaction information. Transaction server4may compare the transaction information provided in the response with the initially provided transaction information to determine whether or not transaction information provided in the response is correct.

Reference is made toFIG. 2, which is a schematic illustration of a flowchart of a method for conducting secure transactions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In operation200, a user may attempt to conduct a desired transaction. The user may provide transaction information that specifies a desired transaction. A transaction server, for example, transaction server4, such as a bank website server, may accept the transaction information. Transaction information may include, for example, partial or complete transaction details for conducting a desired transaction, for example, an amount of money, a source and/or destination for the money, an account number, etc. For example, “transfer $100.00 to Account Number XXXXX123”.

Since the transaction information may be sent over a non-secure channel, communication between the user and the transaction server may be intercepted and possibly corrupted, for example, by hackers and/or hacking systems. Thus further verification of user identity is needed to ensure the desired transaction is securely executed for the identified user in operation200.

In operation210, the transaction server may use the transaction information to send a user a representation of a customized statement. The representation of the customized statement may be in a form difficult for crimeware to decode, for example, as a graphic image, or as an audible statement to be heard at the user's end. For example, the customized statement may be converted into image form and sent as a GIF or JPG file for presentation at the user end. In an embodiment of the invention, the representation may be converted into an audible form and sent as a WAV file for presentation at the user end, for example, on speakers associated with the user's computer. In such cases, the user may be asked if he has speakers, and/or may be prompted to activate the volume on the speakers. The customized statement may relate to the transaction information and may include a challenge to a user. The representation, whether audible or visual, may be obscured. For example, the obscured representation may include image data including distorted data embedded therein, where the distorted data may relate to the transaction information provided by the identified user in operation200.

The customized statement may be designed so that a correct response is in agreement with the desired transaction information. In some embodiments, since the correct response may be in agreement with the transaction information, if crimeware were to modify the transaction information, the response would be incorrect and the transaction would be blocked. Thus, an intercepting party may not modify the transaction information.

For example, the customized statement may include a challenge that requires a response that reiterates the desired transaction information in order to execute a transaction. For example, the customized statement may state, “You are attempting to transfer $100.00 to Account Number XXXXX123. Verify by providing the name of your first grade teacher”. The transaction server may generate a correct response to the challenge, for example, by retrieving information, for example, the ‘name of a first grade teacher’ provided by the user in operation200.

In operation220, a user may provide a response to the customized statement.

In operation230, the transaction server may determine whether or not the response provided by the user in operation220is correct. For example, the transaction server may determine whether or not the response sufficiently matches the correct response generated by the transaction server. If the responses sufficiently match, the transaction server may conduct the transaction according to the transaction information provided by the user in operation200. If the responses do not sufficiently match, the transaction server may not conduct the transaction according to the transaction information provided by the user in operation200and may additionally execute security measures, for example, investigating the identity of the user in operation220or halting subsequent mechanisms according to embodiments of the invention for the user in operation220.