System and method for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware

Abstract

A computer implemented method for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices includes providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device. Next, providing a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device. Next, monitoring status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface. Upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface providing a warning signal, turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   providing a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device;   providing a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   monitoring status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface;   upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface providing a warning signal; and   turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising upon resolving the unauthorized change of status or unauthorized data traffic across the specific hardware device interface, turning on the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-on switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-on-off switch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activation of the turn-on, turn-off, turn-all-on, turn-all-off switches is initiated locally by a user of the networked computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activation of the turn-on, turn-off, turn-all-on, turn-all-off switches is initiated remotely by an administrator of the networked computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said networked computing device comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a security application, and a display, wherein the security application provides computer implemented operations and instructions that monitor, detect and block data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware across all available hardware device interfaces in each of the networked computing device; wherein the CPU executes the computer implemented instruction provided by the security application, and wherein the display displays the GUI. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a first table comprising a list of applications and authorized status of each available hardware device interface for each application and storing said first table in a database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising providing a second table comprising a list of known malicious applications and storing said second table in said database. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a server configured to access the one or more networked computing devices via a network connection and wherein said server comprises a command center, a dashboard, a toolbar, a taskbar, a standalone GUI and an application programmers interface (API), and wherein said command center is configured to manage remotely security applications in the one or more networked computing devices. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising creating rules and policies and installing them in the security applications of the one or more networked computing devices and the server via the command center. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising summarizing and presenting in the dashboard real-time events occurring in the one or more networked computing devices and the server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying the status of all available hardware device interfaces in the toolbar for the one or more networked computing devices and the server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein communications between the server and the one or more networked computing devices comprise secure communications protocols. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said secure communication protocols comprise one of secure socket layer (SSL), or transport layer security (TLS). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the server further comprises a real-time kernel driver and a rootkit ‘system’ healer, and wherein the real-time kernel constantly monitors the status of all controlling interfaces and settings and in the event a hacker or malicious code tampers with the security applications, the rootkit “system” healer restores the security applications. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the available hardware device interfaces comprise one or more of keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, webcam, USB hardware device interface, microphone, Flash memory, Infrared, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wireless, LAN, WAN, VPN, text messaging interfaces, telephone interfaces, modem, cellular, GPS interfaces, gesture based interfaces or eye-motion based interfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turn-on, turn-off, turn-all-on, turn-all-off switches comprise slidably activated switches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the turn-on, turn-off, turn-all-on, turn-all-off switches comprise pressure activated switches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the networked computing devices comprise one of personal computers, servers, desktops, laptops, mobile phones, iPhones™, iPads™, iTouches™, Droids™, Blackberry™ devices, Windows™ phone, Android™ phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or tablet devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the warning signal comprises a visual warning signal or an acoustical warning signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the visual warning signal comprises flashing of the specific hardware device interface image in the GUI. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to installing a new application in any of the one or more networked computing devices, sending a message comprising the hardware device interfaces to which the new application requests access and asking for installation permission and which hardware device interfaces should be blocked. 
     
     
         22 . A system for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices comprising:
 a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device;   a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   a security application configured to monitor status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface, and upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface providing a warning signal and turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch.   
     
     
         23 . A computer program product for detecting, alerting and blocking data leakage, eavesdropping and spyware in one or more networked computing devices, wherein said computer program product is stored on a computer readable medium and comprises:
 computer code for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and displaying all available hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   computer code for providing a turn-on switch and a turn-off switch for each displayed hardware device interface in each networked computing device;   computer code for providing a turn-all-on switch and a turn-all-off switch for all displayed hardware device interfaces in each networked computing device;   computer code for monitoring status of each available hardware device interface and data traffic across each available hardware device interface;   computer code for providing a warning signal, upon detecting an unauthorized change of status of a specific hardware device interface or unauthorized data traffic across a specific hardware device interface; and   computer code for turning off the specific hardware device interface by activating the turn-off switch for the specific hardware device interface or the turn-all-off switch.