Abstract:
Protecting data files from being stolen or compromised in a data processing operation having stored data in a plurality of data files by receiving user requests for access to data files, determining whether said requests are unauthorized intrusions into the requested data files and, responsive to a determination that a request is an unauthorized intrusion, changing the identification of the requested data files by renaming the files. Preferably, the rename should be one which does not identify the contents of the file, i.e. the rename disguises the file contents. Then, it is also desirable that the renamed file be moved to a new “hidden” directory. In such a case, the renamed file is also assigned a covert name which indicates a covert location in the new directory. Then, there is provided a log referencing each renamed file to the covert name of the respective file so as to indicate the covert location of said file in said new directory.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     The following copending patent application, assigned to the assignee of the present invention covers subject matter related to the subject matter of the present patent application: PROTECTING CONTENTS OF COMPUTER DATA FILES FROM SUSPECTED INTRUDERS BY PROGRAMMED FILE DESTRUCTION, G. F. McBrearty et al. Ser. No. 09/801,614 filed on the same date as the present application. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the protection of files from unauthorized or suspected intrusion in computer systems, and particularly in managed communication networks such as the World Wide Web (Web). 
     BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
     The past decade has been marked by a technological revolution driven by the convergence of the data processing industry with the consumer electronics industry. The effect has, in turn, driven technologies which have been known and available but relatively quiescent over the years. A major one of these technologies is the Internet or Web related distribution of documents, media and programs. The convergence of the electronic entertainment and consumer industries with data processing exponentially accelerated the demand for wide ranging communication distribution channels, and the Web or Internet (the terms are used interchangeably) commenced a period of phenomenal expansion. With this expansion, businesses and consumers have direct access to all matter of documents, media and computer programs. 
     In order for the Web to reach its full potential as the basic channel for all world wide business and academic transactions and communications, the providers and users of the Web and like networks must be assured an open communication environment, as well as protection of the data that is offered over the Web and the requests made for such data. With the rise of the Web, there has been an unfortunate increase in the number of malicious users who, at the least, try to disrupt Web and other network services and, at their worst, try to steal goods, services and data accessible over the Web. Of course, the industry has been working for many years to eliminate, or at least neutralize, the efforts of such malicious users. 
     In addition, although electronic and Web business have vast potential, many consumers and business organizations are just beginners in that marketplace and are skeptical and uneasy about making their files accessible to others based upon network authorization. Thus, a significant compromise of data files or theft of data files could be disastrous to vendors trying to establish a sense of stability in that marketplace. 
     Despite these security problems, the above factors have given rise to a new way of doing business, electronic business or E-business. This, of course, involves conducting all matter of business over the Web public network and/or private networks when greater security is demanded. Electronic business requires the electronic handling and collection of cumulatively vast quantities of money. As a result, there are great quantities of records tracking transactions stored as files at various network nodes, as well as in individual computer systems. In order for electronic business to function, it is necessary to make quantities of these stored files available to a wide variety of users with various “needs to know” to handle various electronic business billing and other transactions. Thus, there are established levels of authorizations granted to users for accessing the contents of files. At the various levels in any database, there are different users authorized to access the data files at that level. The database manager determines which users will be authorized to access data at that particular level. 
     In the Web, as well as in individual computer systems, routines must be made available to authenticate that the users requesting access to a particular database are indeed the same users who have been authorized for access. To that end the Web uses an authentication protocol known as Kerberos, which is a network authentication protocol developed by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Kerberos authenticates the identity of users attempting to logon to the Web or to access databases on the Web. It does this through a secret key cryptology. Authenticated users may also transmit Kerberos encrypted communications over the Web. Kerberos is available in many commercial products, and free implementations are available from MIT at site: (http://web.mit.edu/kerberos/www/). 
     Unfortunately, with the great sophistication in computer hacking of potential unauthorized intruders both within and on the outside of business organizations to access secure data, authorization is no longer just a simple comparison of user IDs to simple authorization lists and denying unauthorized requesters. For example, through a variety of “Confidence” ruses inside and outside of computer transactions in combination with other ploys, some skilled hackers can discover “root user” or “super user” identities which permit them to get inside of a database or directory. Once they have, thus, cracked into a database or directory, the hackers are in an excellent position to steal data from files or to trash files. While security is such that even inside of the database or directory, the hacker still needs authentication in order to access the data in individual files, he is in a much easier position to use iterative identifier routines to try to crack the authentication encryptions which protect individual files. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system, method and program for protecting data files from being stolen or compromised. Accordingly, the invention provides, in a data processing operation having stored data in a plurality of data files, a system for protecting said data files from unauthorized users, comprising means for receiving user requests for access to data files, means for determining whether said requests are unauthorized intrusions into the requested data files and means, responsive to a determination that a request is an unauthorized intrusion, for changing the identification of the requested data files. 
     The present invention offers a very aggressive solution to the problem of theft of data in files. The response should take place at the first suspicion of intrusion. For example, the events being monitored may indicate that someone has been able to enter the database as a “root” or super user. In other words, “the fox is in the hen house”. The first response is to rename any file which appears to be targeted, i.e. to change the overt identification of the file. Preferably the rename should be one which does not identify the contents of the file, i.e. the rename disguises the file contents. Then, it is also desirable that the renamed file be moved to a new “hidden” directory. In such a case, the renamed file is also assigned a covert name which indicates a covert location in the new directory. Then, there is provided a log referencing each renamed file to the covert name of the respective file so as to indicate the covert location of said file in said new directory. 
     While the present invention satisfies present needs in network and particularly Web file protection, the principles of the invention are equally applicable to stored data files associated with independent computer systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a generalized diagrammatic view of a Web portion showing how Web sites may be accessed by and protected from unauthorized and malicious requesting users; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a data processing system including a central processing unit and network connections via a communications adapter which is capable of functioning both as a display computer for controlling Web stations and sites and as the servers for monitoring user request patterns to determine unauthorized access or intrusion; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative flowchart describing the setting up of the elements of a program according to the present invention for protecting Web stations, as well as computer systems, from malicious requesting users; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an illustrative run of the program set up in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is provided a generalized view of a network, such as the Web or Internet showing the Web  50  and Internet addresses  63  and  65 , respectively, connected to the Web  50  via Web servers  61  and  62 . 
     By way of background and for details on Web nodes, objects and links, reference is made to the text,  Mastering the Internet , G. H. Cady et al., published by Sybex Inc., Alameda, Calif., 1996; or the text,  Internet: The Complete Reference, Millennium Edition , Margaret Young et al., Osborne/McGraw-Hill, Berkeley, Calif., 1999. Any data communication system which interconnects or links computer controlled systems with various sites defines a communications network. Of course, the Internet or Web is a global network of a heterogeneous mix of computer technologies and operating systems. Higher level objects are linked to the lower level objects in the hierarchy through a variety of network server computers. Reference may be made to the above-mentioned  Mastering the Internet , pp. 136-147, for typical connections between local display stations to the Web via network servers, any of which may be used to implement the system on which this invention is used. 
     It is through such Internet addresses as locations  63  and  65  that potential hackers may intrude upon Web or Internet stations  57  having control of associated databases, which are simply illustrated by directory  55  containing groups of files such as files  58 ,  59 , . . .  68 ,  69 . It should be noted that for the purpose of this illustration there is shown only one Web station and associated database. However, many databases may be accessed over the Web and the present invention is intended to protect such Web sites and databases in the manner which we will describe with respect to Web site or Internet station  57 . This station is connected to the Web through connection  51  and Web server  53  which includes firewall  52 . 
     Thus, files may be requested by users at stations such as Web station  57  including computer  56  throughout the Web  50  or requests for files may come from users at IP locations such as addresses  63  and  65 . Such requests are processed to the particular database through the respective Web station server  53 . Each server has the means for processing such requests, including authenticating the user IDs and then determining whether such identified users have authorizations for particular data file access to be hereinafter described. These authentication and authorization processes are illustratively shown to be encompassed within firewall section  52 . Preferably, the above-described Kerberos protocols are used for this purpose. The computer  56 , which serves as the Web station  57 , has its own associated database made up of one or more directories  55  of files. Such directories  55  in the database may be directly accessed by the user of computer  56  as a standalone computer irrespective of its Web connections. Thus, when the routines for determining user authentication and authorization and the renaming and hiding of hacker targeted files are described, it will be understood that such routines may be performed to check authentication and authorization as a Web data access function in the server  53  or as routines performed within the computer  56  system to check on user requests made directly to computer  56 . In the descriptions of the programs and routines which follow related to how hacker targeted files are disguised and hidden, it will be understood that the running of such routines are preferably shared between computer  56  and server  53  in the case of requests for data files made over the Web. 
     Now, with respect to the protection of files suspected of being under attack, assume that there is an intruder that has obtained sufficient identity to have root user or super user access to the database of directory  55  and files  58 ,  59 , . . .  68 ,  69 . The Kerberos firewall  52  has authenticated such access via connection  54  to the directory. One simple tracking program, let us say in the server  53 , has determined that there have been several unsuccessful authentication attempts to files  58  and  59  which triggers an alert that these files may be the targets of a hacker intrusion using some sort of routine which rapidly applies a series of iterative number keys. Following the program with respect to file  59 , it is renamed with a new overt name  72 . File  59  is also moved from directory  55  to a new hidden or covert directory  75  where the file is assigned a covert file name to identify the covert location of the file. Then a log  70  is maintained having an entry  71  connecting the renamed overt file  72  to the covert location  66  of the file. In this manner, the hacker attacking the files is still continuing to look for the original file which has been renamed, hidden in a different directory and, thus, protected. The owner of the original file must, of course, be notified of the change. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a typical data processing terminal is shown which may function as the computer terminal for Web stations, e.g. terminal  57 ,  FIG. 1 , for the requesting user or the servers which connect requesting user sites or Web sites into the Web. A central processing unit (CPU)  10 , such as one of the PC microprocessors or workstations, e.g. RISC System/6000 (™) (RS/6000) series available from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), is provided and interconnected to various other components by system bus  12 . An operating system  41  runs on CPU  10 , provides control and is used to coordinate the function of the various components of  FIG. 2 . Operating system  41  may be one of the commercially available operating systems such as the AIX 6000™ operating system available from IBM; Microsoft&#39;s Windows98™ or WindowsNT™, as well as UNIX and AIX operating systems. Application programs  40 , controlled by the system, are moved into and out of the main memory, Random Access Memory (RAM)  14 . These programs include the programs of the present invention for the protection of open databases at their server and from any intruding user requesting data files directly from any computer system. 
     A Read Only Memory (ROM)  16  is connected to CPU  10  via bus  12  and includes the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) that controls the basic computer functions. RAM  14 , I/O adapter  18  and communications adapter  34  are also interconnected to system bus  12 . I/O adapter  18  communicates with the disk storage device  20 . Communications adapter  34  interconnects bus  12  with an outside network enabling the data processing system to communicate, as respectively described above, through the Web or Internet. I/O devices are also connected to system bus  12  via user interface adapter  22  and display adapter  36 . Keyboard  24  and mouse  26  are all interconnected to bus  12  through user interface adapter  22 . Display adapter  36  includes a frame buffer  39 , which is a storage device that holds a representation of each pixel on the display screen  38 . Images may be stored in frame buffer  39  for display on monitor  38  through various components, such as a digital to analog converter (not shown) and the like. By using the aforementioned I/O devices, a user is capable of inputting information to the system through the keyboard  24  or mouse  26  and receiving output information from the system via display  38 . 
     Now, with reference to the programming shown in  FIG. 3 , the program of the present invention is set up. There is set up at the servers of the databases accessible through the Web and/or at individual computer systems, a system to access files in a database responsive to user requests, step  80 . Authorization is then determined for users authorized to have access to files in a particular database, step  81 . There are then set up lists of users for authentication of users authorized to have access to files in the database, step  82 . Routines such as Kerberos authentication are set up, step  83 , for authenticating users on the authorized lists of step  82 . Routines are set up, step  84 , for detecting unauthorized intrusions by users requesting authentication, in step  83 , by tracking parameters relative to user authentication requests. When an unauthorized intrusion is suspected, step  84 , then step  85 , the following routines are set up: the file targeted by the intruder is renamed; the renamed file is moved to a new directory; the renamed file is assigned a covert name indicating a covert location in a new directory for the renamed file; and a log is maintained connecting the covert name to the renamed file. 
     Now, with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 4 , a simplified illustrative run of the process set up in  FIG. 3  will be described. The simplification is made so as to illustrate an understandable process. In considering this example, it should be understood that in many processes the criteria for determining whether there has been unauthorized use or intrusion may be more complex. However, the complexity of such a determination is not the present invention. The invention involves how the files are treated once a determination of unauthorized access has been made. When a user requests a file, step  87 , a determination is made, step  88 , as to whether the user is authenticated, i.e. his ID matches the ID of the authorized user via the Kerberos authentication protocols. If Yes, the user is granted access to the requested file, step  89 . If No, then the user is refused access to the file, step  90 . In the present case, just because there has been a first failure at authentication is not considered to mean that an unauthorized intrusion is at hand. A count N of such failures is maintained and one is added to the count, step  91 . Then, a determination is made, step  92 , as to whether N=C, where C is a number which the system or network manager has determined to be an indication, or at least a valid suspicion, that there is an intrusion by an unauthorized user. It will be understood that routines for determining unauthorized intrusion may involve other more complex routines for monitoring events, but this is a simplified example. Accordingly, if the decision from step  92  is No, the procedure is returned to the starting point where the next user request is awaited. If the decision from step  92  is Yes and indicates an intrusion, then, step  93 , the target file is renamed. For example, if the file were a customer credit card file originally named “customer_credit_cards”, it may be renamed “Dow_Jones_avg”. For security reasons, the rename should give no information about the contents of the file, i.e. credit card numbers. The whole file is then moved, step  94 , to another hidden or covert directory, e.g. “/usr” and assigned, step  95 , a covert name, e.g. “/usr/bin/x.html”, which is indicative of the files covert location in the covert directory. An entry is then made in a covert log which relates each renamed file to its covert directory location, step  96 . The owner of the file is notified, step  97 . Conveniently, at this point or after an authenticated user is granted file access in prior step  89 , a determination is made as to whether there is a session end, step  98 . If Yes, the session is exited. If No, then, via branch “A”, the procedure is returned to the starting point where the next user request is awaited. 
     It should be noted that the programs covered by the present invention may be stored outside of the present computer systems until they are required. The program instructions may be stored in another readable medium, e.g. in disk drive associated with the desktop computer or in a removable memory, such as an optical disk for use in a CD RON computer input or in a floppy disk for use in a floppy disk drive computer input. Further, the program instructions may be stored in the memory of another computer prior to use in the system of the present invention and transmitted over a network when required by the user of the present invention. 
     One skilled in the art should appreciate that the processes controlling the present invention are capable of being distributed in the form of computer readable media of a variety of forms. 
     Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and intent of the appended claims.