Patent Publication Number: US-9904912-B2

Title: Protecting transactions

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/359,215, filed on Jan. 23, 2009, and entitled “PROTECTING TRANSACTIONS,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile phones are now sophisticated mobile computing systems. They can include multiple processors, memory, and various input/output devices. Mobile phones can have operating systems and can execute multiple applications, sometimes even concurrently. For example, “smart phones” are mobile phones that employ operating systems and applications designed by the assignee of the instant patent application. 
     Users can employ mobile phones to complete simple and complex tasks, including completing various online transactions. For example, mobile phones can be used to complete banking or other transactions. A user can employ a mobile phone to connect to a bank&#39;s computer (e.g., by using a browser on the mobile phone to connect to an Internet service offered by the bank) to transfer funds between accounts, pay bills, etc. 
     Smart phones may eventually even become electronic “wallets” that users use to authorize payments to vendors, such as by placing their phone proximate to a “reader” at a vendor&#39;s establishment. Upon purchasing an item, the user may place the mobile phone near the reader. The reader may read a signal from the mobile phone to authorize the transaction, such as by confirming an identifier in the mobile phone with a bank. 
     As the set of features a phone offers increases, so does its “attack surface.” An attack surface comprises the set of points that a malicious entity can employ to break into any security features that a mobile phone, its operating system, or applications provide. Examples of some of the points comprising an attack surface include application program interfaces (APIs) provided by the operating system or an application. A malicious entity can install a component such as an application, object, dynamic link library, or other component to intercede when an online transaction occurs, such as to surreptitiously record and re-transmit credit card numbers, authorize transactions without the user&#39;s awareness, and so forth. To do so, the component can interject input or output, such as by employing the operating system&#39;s API to detect and/or interject keystrokes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Technology is described for protecting transactions. A transaction can include any sort of request, such as an operating system request, financial request, or other request. The request can be initiated by a user or a component. A transaction can be initiated remotely, such as at a mobile phone, but completed elsewhere, such as at a server. The technology may include a switching component that a user can use—or that can be automatically signaled—to switch an associated mobile device into a secure mode so that a user can confirm the transaction. When the user activates the switching component, the mobile device switches into a secure mode. In the secure mode, the mobile device may disable processors from conducting various normal activities, such as executing applications, receiving input, providing output, and so forth. Upon receiving the confirmation from the user, the switching component may send a confirmation communication to complete the transaction, and may then re-enable disabled activities. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are block diagrams illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to receive challenge messages. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a user interface provided by the technology in some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to prompt users. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to handle transactions. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Technology is described for protecting transactions, such as transactions at mobile phones. A transaction can include any sort of request, such as an operating system request, financial request, or other request. The request can be initiated by a user or a component, such as an application, service, etc. A transaction can be initiated remotely, such as at a mobile phone, but completed elsewhere, such as at a server. In various embodiments, the technology includes a switching component. A user can employ the switch to confirm a transaction using a reduced attack surface. As an example, when a transaction is to be confirmed, the user can employ the switch to cause the computing device (e.g., mobile phone) into a mode that employs one of its processors that may have a smaller attack surface than its other processors. When the switching component is activated, it may disable all processors other than one of the processors (“secure processor”) from accessing input or output devices. The other processors may, however, continue other execution. The secure processor may be a processor with a smaller attack surface than the other processors that are disabled. The secure processor may be similar to the other, now disabled, processors in other respects. 
     In various embodiments, the user may receive a signal that the switching component should be activated. The signal may be any sort of output of the computing device, such as a visual, auditory, or tactile signal. As examples, the computing device may display a message, illuminate a lamp, emit a sound, cause a vibration, etc. In various embodiments, the user may activate the switching component after requesting a transaction even though the computing device has not provided a signal. 
     In various embodiments, the switch can be automatically signaled to switch an associated mobile device into a secure mode so that a user can confirm the transaction. As an example, when a user initiates a transaction from a mobile device to a server, the server can send a communication (“challenge”) that is detected by the switching component. Upon detecting the communication, the switching component can cause the mobile device to switch into a secure mode. 
     When the user activates the switch, the computing device can be switched to a secure mode. In the secure mode, the switching component may disable the mobile device from conducting various normal activities, such as executing applications, receiving input, providing output, and so forth. To do so, the switching component may provide a visual signal to the user (e.g., via a display or light, speaker, vibration, etc.) that a confirmation is required and may also disable all other processing temporarily, such as by “switching off” processors that are not secured. In various embodiments, the processors that are “switched off” may be able to perform all computations other than receive input from input devices or provide output to output devices. For example, the switching component may temporarily disable a main processor and employ only a secure processor to receive a confirmation from the user. 
     The confirmation expected from the user may be a specific user input, such as depressing a switch or button, entering a password, etc. Upon receiving the confirmation from the user, the switching component may send a confirmation communication (e.g., response to the challenge) and then re-enable disabled activities. The switching component (or some other validating component) may send a confirmation communication to the component that sent the challenge. 
     The secure processor can be a processor with limited capability that the operating system of the mobile device generally does not employ to execute applications. The confirmation communication may be a message that contains a digital signature, an encrypted code or password, or other secure confirmation that cannot be easily duplicated. The server may await the confirmation communication from the mobile device before completing the transaction. 
     Several embodiments of the facility are described in more detail in reference to the Figures. The computing devices on which the described technology may be implemented may include one or more central processing units, memory, input devices (e.g., keyboard and pointing devices), output devices (e.g., display devices), storage devices (e.g., disk drives), and network devices (e.g., network interfaces). The memory and storage devices are computer-readable media that may store instructions that implement the importance system. In addition, the data structures and message structures may be stored or transmitted via a data transmission medium, such as a signal on a communications link. Various communications links may be used, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a point-to-point dial-up connection. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. The environment  100  in which the technology operates can include one or more servers  102   a  through  102   n , a network  104  (e.g., an intranet or the Internet), and one or more computing devices, such as mobile computing devices  106   a  through  106   m . Other varieties of computing devices can also be employed. The mobile computing devices may be handheld devices, such as mobile telephones. The mobile computing devices may wirelessly communicate with other devices, such as to communicate voice, video, or other information, via an antenna  108 . The antenna  108  can exchange radiofrequency or other signals with a corresponding antenna (not shown) associated with the mobile computing devices. 
       FIG. 2A  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. The components of a computing device, such as mobile device  106   a , can include one or more processors, such as processors  202  and  204 . A first processor  202  can be a processor that the mobile device employs to execute its operating system  212 , application  214 , or other routines. For example, the first processor can be a conventional reduced instruction set processor. A second processor  204  can be a secure processor that has a minimal attack surface. For example, the second secure processor can be a processor that is employed for the limited purpose of authenticating or verifying transactions. An example of such a processor is a processor that is embedded in some subscriber identification module (“SIM”) cards that mobile phones can employ. The first and second processor may exchange data, such as via a shared memory  222 . For example, the first processor can store data from a challenge it receives from a server in the shared memory so that when the user switches the mobile device into a secure mode, the second processor can retrieve the data from the secure memory without requiring the first processor to execute any instructions. In various embodiments, the first and second processor may be highly similar or even identical, but one may be more secure than the other because it uses a different operating system, may have reduced input/output connections, etc. 
     The mobile device may have a radio input/output component  210  that it can employ to send and/or receive radio signals. As an example, the mobile device may receive challenge messages via the radio input on a different frequency (or using a different radio communications mechanism) than the frequency or radio communications mechanism that the mobile device employed to request a transaction. The computing device may include an encryption component  218  that it employs to encrypt communications, such as responses to challenges. The computing device can also include a display  206  (e.g., lights and/or display panels), biometric input component  208 , operating system  212 , digital signature certificate  216 , and lamp  220 . The biometric input component  208  can receive and/or interpret input based on fingerprint, retina scan, camera-based facial recognition, touch and/or pressure sensors, heat sensors, accelerometers, and so forth. The digital signature certificate  216  can create and/or store digital signatures. The lamp  220  can indicate that the user needs to respond to a challenge to authorize a transaction. 
       FIG. 2B  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. The components are similar to the components described above in relation to  FIG. 2A , except that the computing device can include a processor  224  that has a hypervisor  226 . A hypervisor is a component that enables a processor to offer multiple processing capabilities. As an example, the processor may offer multiple “virtual machines” that each can execute its own operating system. The processor  224  is illustrated as executing virtual machine  1   228   a  through virtual machine n  228   n . When the switching component is activated, it may cause the processor  224  to switch to a virtual machine that reduces (e.g., minimizes) the attack surface. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to receive challenge messages. The routine  300  may be invoked by a mobile device when it receives a challenge. The routine  300  begins at block  302 . At block  304 , the routine receives a challenge, such as a communication sent by a server in response to a request for a transaction. At block  306 , the routine stores data from the receive challenge in a shared memory. As an example, the routine may store a subset of the data that is contained in the challenge communication that another routine of the mobile device can employ to determine that a user needs to confirm the transaction. (Herein in relation to transactions, confirm, authorize, verify, and the like are employed as synonyms.) At block  308 , the routine invokes a prompt_user subroutine to prompt the user to confirm the transaction. The prompt_user subroutine is described in further detail below in relation to  FIG. 5 . At block  310 , the routine returns. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the logic illustrated in  FIG. 3  and described above, and in each of the flow diagrams discussed below, may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order of the logic may be rearranged, substeps may be performed in parallel, illustrated logic may be omitted, other logic may be included, etc. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a user interface provided by the technology in some embodiments. A computing device, such as a mobile device  400 , can include a display  402 , buttons  404   a ,  404   b , and  404   c , and indicators or lamps  406   a  and  406   b . The mobile device may indicate to the user via a lamp  406   a  that the user needs to confirm the transaction. The mobile device may also display a message  408  in the display  402  to prompt the user to confirm the transaction. The user may then confirm the transaction by depressing a key  404   a.    
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to prompt users. A mobile device may invoke the routine  500  to prompt a user to confirm the transaction. The routine  500  begins at block  502 . At block  504 , the routine may display a prompt, such as in a display. Alternatively, or in addition, the routine may indicate that the transaction needs to be confirmed by illuminating a lamp. At decision block  506 , the routine determines whether a verification switch is active. The routine may wait for a specified threshold period of time before determining that the verification switch is not active (not illustrated). If the verification switch is not active after the specified period of time, the routine continues at block  514 , where it returns. Otherwise, the routine continues at block  508 . At block  508 , the routine receives a response from the user. As an example, the routine may receive an indication that the transaction is to be authorized. The indication can be an entry of a password, depression of a key, etc. In various embodiments, the server that requests the confirmation may indicate in the challenge what confirmation will be acceptable. As an example, a financial transaction may require a confirmation including a password whereas another transaction may require only depression of a key. At decision block  510 , the routine determines whether the response received from the user is correct or acceptable by the server. If the response is correct or acceptable, the routine continues at block  512 , where it transmits an indication of the response to the server. Otherwise, the routine may display an error at block  516 . The routine then returns at block  514 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. A computing device can include a bus  602  to which one or more processors and a memory are connected. For example, the bus  602  can be connected to a first processor  604  and a second, secure processor  608 . A shared memory  610  can also be connected to the bus. When a switch  606  is open, the first processor is disconnected from the other components, such as the second processor and the shared memory. The switch may initially be closed. When the computing device receives a challenge, it may suspend the first processor and open the switch. The switch may remain open until the user confirms or rejects the transaction. Thereafter the switch closes and the first processor is again operational. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a method invoked by the technology in various embodiments to handle transactions. A server may invoke the routine  700  to handle a transaction, such as upon receiving a transaction request. The routine  700  begins at block  702 . At block  704 , the routine receives a request, such as the transaction request. At block  706 , the routine determines a level of verification required for the transaction. At block  708 , the routine assembles a challenge. The challenge can be communication that the server transmits to the client computing device (e.g., mobile device) in response to the received transaction request. The communication can include information that the client computing device can employ in preparing a response to the challenge. As an example, the challenge can include a key that the client computing device can transform into an acceptable response to the challenge. At block  710 , the routine transmits the challenge to the computing device that requested the transaction. It may then wait for a response. At block  712 , the routine receives a response to the challenge. At block  714 , the routine verifies the received response. As an example, the routine may verify that the response contains the correct transformation of the key, encrypted information, digitally signed information, etc. At decision block  716 , the routine verifies the challenge. If the challenge is verified, the routine continues at block  718 . Otherwise, the routine continues at block  720  where it returns an error. At block  718 , the routine handles the transaction. The routine returns at block  722 . 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating components employed by the technology in various embodiments. A computing device (e.g., a mobile device) can employ switching components to selectively disable displays, other output devices, input devices, storage, and so forth. For example, a switching component  804  can prevent a display signal  802  from reaching a display output  806 . A switching component  812  can prevent an input device  810  from transmitting input signals (e.g., keyboard, stylus, etc.) to an input processor  814 . These switching components can work with switching component  606  of  FIG. 6 . 
     Various embodiments of the technology will now be described. The embodiments may operate independently or jointly. 
     The technology can invoke a method for protecting a remotely initiated transaction, wherein the method comprises initiating a transaction by sending a request from a client computing device to a server computing device; receiving a communication from the server computing device, the communication indicating a challenge; causing the client computing device to disable an unsecure processor so that a secure processor can verify the remotely initiated transaction with a user; indicating the challenge to the user; receiving a confirmation from the user; and transmitting a confirmation message to the server computing device so that the server computing device can complete the transaction. The challenge can include an indication that a secure computing environment should confirm the challenge. The indication can include an indication of a required level of security. The method can include disabling an input device of the client computing device. The method can include disabling an output device of the client computing device. The method can include disabling execution of an application executing on the client computing device. The method can include disabling execution of all applications executing on the client computing device. The method can include sending a signal to the unsecure processor that it is to be temporarily disabled. The method can include storing by the unsecure processor a portion of the received communication in a shared memory. The secure processor can read the portion of the received communication in the shared memory and generate a signal (e.g., encrypted confirmation or transformed key) based on the read portion of the received communication. The method can then transmit the confirmation message. 
     The technology can include one or more computer-readable media collectively storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for protecting a remotely initiated transaction, the method comprising: receiving a communication from the server computing device, the communication indicating a challenge; causing the client computing device to disable a processor so that a secure processor can verify the remotely initiated transaction with a user; indicating the challenge to the user; receiving input from the user; and if the input is a confirmation, transmitting a confirmation message to the server computing device so that the server computing device can complete the transaction. The method can display a prompt to the user to confirm the remotely initiated transaction. The method may open a switch upon receiving the communication. The method may then close the switch upon receiving the input from the user. 
     The technology can include a system for protecting a remotely initiated transaction, comprising: a component configured to initiate a transaction by transmitting a request from a client computing device to a server computing device; a component configured to receive a communication from the server computing device, the communication indicating a challenge; and a component configured to cause the client computing device to disable a processor so that a secure processor can verify the remotely initiated transaction with a user. The system can include a component configured to indicate the challenge to the user. The system can include a component configured to receive input from the user and, if the input is a confirmation, transmit a confirmation message to the server computing device so that the server computing device can complete the transaction. The system can include a bus to which the processor and the secure processor are both connected; a shared memory connected to the bus; and wherein the component configured to cause the client computing device to disable the processor is a switch. 
     The technology can include one or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for protecting a transaction, the method comprising: receiving a signal to employ a secure processor; causing the client computing device to disable a processor so that the secure processor can verify a transaction; receiving input from the user; and if the input is a confirmation, communicating a confirmation message. The method can display a prompt to the user to confirm the transaction. The method can open a switch prior to receiving the signal and/or close the switch upon receiving the input from the user. 
     The technology can include a system for protecting a transaction, comprising: a component configured to initiate a transaction by transmitting a request from a client computing device to a service; a component configured to receive a communication from the service, the communication indicating a challenge; and a component configured to cause the client computing device to disable a processor so that a secure processor can verify the remotely initiated transaction with a user. The system can include a component configured to indicate the challenge to the user. The system can include a component configured to receive input from the user and, if the input is a confirmation, transmit a confirmation message to the service so that the service can complete the transaction. The system can include a bus to which the processor and the secure processor are both connected; a shared memory connected to the bus; and wherein the component configured to cause the client computing device to disable the processor is a switch. 
     The technology can thus be used in various embodiments to confirm transactions generated locally at the computing device for transactions to be completed locally or remotely. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.