Patent ID: 8881280

Claim:
A method for preventing behavior in a user's device when the behavior is requested by a remotely located device through a computer network, the method comprising: determining that the behavior is predetermined to be potentially undesirable; determining whether the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, is prohibited, or is neither allowed nor prohibited; determining whether or not one or more other devices used by the user comprise an additional one or more devices of the user's device-sphere; upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is allowed, performing the behavior; upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is prohibited, refusing to perform the behavior; and upon a condition in which the behavior, when requested by the remotely located device, is neither allowed nor prohibited: using an output device of the user's device, informing the user of the behavior requested by the remotely located device; receiving, through an input device of the user's device, a signal generated by the user representing a choice of whether to allow or deny the behavior; upon a condition in which the choice is to allow the behavior: recording that the remotely located device is allowed to perform the behavior; and performing the behavior; and upon a condition in which the choice is to deny the behavior: recording that the remotely located device is not allowed to perform the behavior; and refusing to perform the behavior; and determining whether the choice is applicable to one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere; and upon a condition in which the choice is applicable to one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere, communicating the choice to each of the one or more other devices used by the user as part of the user's device-sphere.