Abstract: An approach is proposed to support Internet traffic inspection to detect and prevent access to blocked websites or resources. First, access requests initiated by users to websites hosted on servers over a network are intercepted by an inspection agent, which identifies and caches a pair of the domain/host name of each website and its corresponding IP address on the Internet to a localized DNS cache. When a newly intercepted access request identifies the website by its IP address only without specifying its domain/host name, the inspection agent looks up the domain name by its IP address from the DNS cache. If no domain name is found, the inspection agent redirects the access request to a proxy server instead of forwarding it to the server hosting the website for further inspection. The proxy server then inspects the IP address to determine if it is a legitimate website or not.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support scanning through a file of large size without having to load the entire file into memory of single file parser or scanner. The proposed approach is configured to divide a ginormous file to be parsed and scanned into a plurality of sections following a divide and conquer scheme. The plurality sections of the file are then parsed and loaded to a plurality of file scanners each configured to scan its allocated file section of a certain file type. Each of the plurality of file scanners is then configured to extract and evaluate from its allocated section file parts that can be harmful to a user of the file and/or expose sensitive/protected information of the user. The scan results are then collected, analyzed, and report to a user with a final determination on the malicious content and sensitive data.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support email account takeover detection and remediation by utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) engine/classifier that detects and remediates such attacks in real time. The AI engine is configured to continuously monitor and identify communication patterns of a user on an electronic messaging system of an entity via application programming interface (API) calls. The AI engine is then configured to collect and utilize a variety of features and/or signals from an email sent from an internal email account of the entity. The AI engine combines these signals to automatically detect whether the email account has been compromised by an external attacker and alert the individual user of the account and/or a system administrator accordingly in real time. The AI engine further enables the parties to remediate the effects of the compromised email account by performing one or more remediating actions.

Abstract: An approach is proposed to support neutralizing real cyber threats to training materials by intercepting, modifying and redistributing active content(s) of an email arrived at a recipient's email account. Specifically, when the recipient triggers an active content such as an URL link embedded in and/or opens an attachment to the email, the triggered active content is synchronously intercepted and examined in real time for potential malicious intent of a phishing attack. If the active content is determined to be malicious, the malicious active content in the email is then disassembled and deactivated while the payload is reconstructed with links and markings for training purposes. The recipient is then provided with an anti-phishing training exercise, wherein content of the training exercise is specifically customized for the recipient based on the reconstructed payload of the received email and/or the recipient's security posture and awareness.

Abstract: Network traffic inspection is disclosed. An application executing on a client device as an operating system that uses a virtual private network (VPN) stack of the operating system intercepts a first IP packet. The application determines that a policy should be applied to the intercepted first IP packet. The policy is applied to the intercepted first IP packet.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support a sandboxed application plug-in distribution framework. An installation package containing a monitoring plug-in, a display plug-in, and/or third part components is received by a first application running on a first computing device. The first application installs the display plug-in and saves the monitoring plug-in to a centralized database. The first application sends an instruction to a second application running on a second computing device to retrieve the monitoring plug-in from the database and install the monitoring plug-in on the second computing device. Upon receiving a user request, the display plug-in of the first application sends a query to the monitor plug-in of the second application. In response to the query, the monitoring plug-in sends the requested monitored data collected by the second application to the display plug-in, which then formats and presents the monitored data to the user.

Abstract: An approach is proposed to support neutralizing real cyber threats to training materials by intercepting, modifying and redistributing active content(s) of an email arrived at a recipient's email account. Specifically, when the recipient triggers an active content such as an URL link embedded in and/or opens an attachment to the email, the triggered active content is synchronously intercepted and examined in real time for potential malicious intent of a phishing attack. If the active content is determined to be malicious, the malicious active content in the email is then disassembled and deactivated while the payload is reconstructed with links and markings for training purposes. The recipient is then provided with an anti-phishing training exercise, wherein content of the training exercise is specifically customized for the recipient based on the reconstructed payload of the received email and/or the recipient's security posture and awareness.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support utilizing security device plugins for external device control and monitoring in a secured environment. A plugin that implements one or more functionalities to communicate with and to control operations of an external device is provided to a network security device/appliance. The plugin is then loaded to the network security appliance and integrated with a software running on the network security device, wherein the software obtains the functionalities offered by the plugin. A communication link is established between the plugin of the network security device and the external device following a communication protocol. The network security device is then configured to issue/receive one or more commands to/from the external device following the communication protocol to monitor and collect information from and/or control or be controlled by the external device remotely.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support human activity tracking and authenticity verification of human-originated digital assets. First, activities performed by a producer while he/she is constructing a digital asset, e.g., an electronic message, are captured. Information/metadata of the captured activities are then packaged/encapsulated inside the constructed digital asset, wherein such metadata includes but is not limited to mouse and/or keyboard activities, software tools used, and other digital traces of the captured human activities. Once the digital asset is transmitted and received by a consumer, the metadata included in the digital asset is unpacked and analyzed to determine various levels of authenticity of the digital asset with respect to whether the digital asset is originated manually by a human being or automatically by a software program. The consumer may then take actions accordingly based on the level of authenticity of the received digital asset.

Abstract: A new network security device/appliance is proposed to not only protect, but also to control and operate an industrial IoT device. Specifically, the network security device is configured to detect and block cyber attacks such as viruses, hacking attempts, and other types of cyber threats launched from an outside network against the industrial IoT device based on a set of configurable rules. In addition, the network security device is further configured to control and operate the industrial IoT device remotely in response to the cyber attacks by issuing and communicating certain instructions/command to the industrial IoT device. Besides accepting and executing control command from the network security device, the industrial IoT device is also configured to send a request to the network security device to make certain adjustments to the rules concerning network traffic directed to the industrial IoT device.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed to support autonomous similar and adjacent attack identification. First, an incident is created for a detected suspicious electronic message-borne attack at one user account with one tenant on an electronic communication platform. A plurality of insight events for similar or adjacent attacks are then generated automatically based on the detected attack and inserted into an insights queue. For each of the insight events in the insights queue, a search is conducted in a repository to identify a set of un-remediated attacks against user accounts of the same or different tenants on the electronic communication platform, wherein the set of un-remediated attacks are similar or adjacent to the detected attack. Insights on the identified un-remediated attacks against the user accounts in the same or different tenants that are similar or adjacent to the detected attack are automatically generated for an administrator and are remediated accordingly.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to provide identification and mitigation of malware attack via Web assets hosted on a Web application, site, or platform in an automated and proactive manner. From the moment the Web assets are hosted on the Web application platform and protected by a Web application security device, the hosted Web assets are constantly monitored and assessed for potential risks. Whenever there is a new instance or a modification of a Web asset, a copy of the Web asset is automatically downloaded and analyzed for potential vulnerabilities. If a suspicious indicator of malicious contents in the Web asset is detected during the analysis, a plurality of security policies are created and applied to the Web application security device to mitigate threats of the Web asset and protect users of the Web application against malware attacks via the tampered Web asset.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed to support generating and presenting to a user cyber attack monetary impact estimation of a current or future cyber attack, which is used to stop monetary losses or to mitigate monetary impacts. First, both historic data and real time data on monetary impact of current and/or potential cyber attacks is continuously collected from a plurality of data pools. The collected data is then synchronized, correlated and filtered/cleansed once the data is available to create fidelity among the data from the plurality of data pools. The cyber attack monetary impact is calculated based on the correlated and cleansed data, and is presented to the user along with one or more suggested applications by the user in response to the cyber attack monetary impact, to mitigate the monetary impact of the current or future cyber attack.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed to support generating and presenting a single composite Cyber Security Threat Index (CSTI) to a user, wherein the CSTI provides the user with an indication of risk of cyber attacks globally and/or in the context of his/her current networking environment. First, various pools of operational data are collected over networks, systems, and/or products, wherein such data includes files being weaponized in the cyber attacks against computer systems and networks, the surfaces and contexts on which the cyber attacks are launched, and influential factors on these data. The data collected from various pools is then synchronized, correlated, and filtered/cleansed so that it can be used to assess risk of the cyber attacks. The CSTI is calculated based on the correlated data on the cyber attacks and interactively presented to the user, who then takes corresponding remediation actions to prevent a cyber attack from happening or spreading.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support email account takeover detection and remediation by utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI) engine/classifier that detects and remediates such attacks in real time. The AI engine is configured to continuously monitor and identify communication patterns of a user on an electronic messaging system of an entity via application programming interface (API) calls. The AI engine is then configured to collect and utilize a variety of features and/or signals from an email sent from an internal email account of the entity. The AI engine combines these signals to automatically detect whether the email account has been compromised by an external attacker and alert the individual user of the account and/or a system administrator accordingly in real time. The AI engine further enables the parties to remediate the effects of the compromised email account by performing one or more remediating actions.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support a sandboxed application plug-in distribution framework. An installation package containing a monitoring plug-in, a display plug-in, and/or third part components is received by a first application running on a first computing device. The first application installs the display plug-in and saves the monitoring plug-in to a centralized database. The first application sends an instruction to a second application running on a second computing device to retrieve the monitoring plug-in from the database and install the monitoring plug-in on the second computing device. Upon receiving a user request, the display plug-in of the first application sends a query to the monitor plug-in of the second application. In response to the query, the monitoring plug-in sends the requested monitored data collected by the second application to the display plug-in, which then formats and presents the monitored data to the user.

Abstract: A software system and service for facilitating organizational testing of employees in order to determine their potential susceptibility to phishing scams is disclosed to evaluate their susceptibility to e-mail and Internet cybercrimes such as phishing. The e-mail addresses of a client organization's employees are provided to the system, a phishing e-mail is created and customized, and a phishing e-mail campaign in which the phishing e-mail message is sent and the responses to the phishing e-mail is monitored, and the results of the e-mail campaign are provided for evaluation. The phishing e-mail may optionally contain attachments and various types of probes and “call home” mechanisms.

Abstract: A device includes a database, a controller, and a PVN router. The database is configured to store network settings information and tracks devices connected to a network. The controller is configured to control access of devices to one another after establishing a connection to the network. The PVN router is configured to receive a provisioning request from a requesting to connect to the network. The PVN router is further configured to transmit a provisioning response to the requesting device based on instantiation of a PVN template received from the database. The PVN template is generated based on the network settings information and further based on the control access determined by the controller. The provisioning response establishes a connection between the requesting device and the network. The requesting device is inaccessible by a subset of devices already connected in the network after the connection is established and vice versa.

Abstract: An approach is proposed that contemplates system and method to configure firewall rules of a VPN gateway of a protected network so that users of devices in the protected network can access Internet securely via a captive network. First, the proposed approach enables the VPN gateway to probe the captive network with an HTTP request to discover a captive portal of the captive network. After the captive portal is discovered, one or more firewall rules of the VPN gateway are added so that network traffic from the devices in the protected network are redirected to the captive portal for authentication. Once the users are authenticated and a VPN tunnel is established between the VPN gateway and a remote VPN tunnel terminal, the firewall rules previously added are removed from the VPN gateway and all network traffic from the devices in the protected network are routed over the VPN tunnel.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support packing of both binary data and fields of non-binary logical data (e.g., JSON) into a payload, which is then transmitted by a client to a cloud-based storage or a web server over a communication network. Here, the payload is designed for the packing binary data with the non-binary data fields that preserves backwards compatibility with all types of clients of the data without any limitation on the data format supported by the clients. As such, the packing of binary data with data fields of the non-binary logical request data allows both simple text-based parsing and binary data to co-exist where both binary and string data can be included in the payload.