Patents Assigned to Voltage Security, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8627084
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses cryptographic techniques to support secure messaging between senders and recipients. A sender may encrypt a message for a recipient using the recipient's public key. The sender may send the encrypted message to the message address of a given recipient. A server may be used to decrypt the encrypted message for the recipient, so that the recipient need not install a decryption engine on the recipient's equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies, Rishi Kacker, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8600048
    Abstract: Format-translating encryption (FTE) cryptographic operations may be implemented using a cryptographic system that translates plaintext strings to ciphertext strings of a different format and that translates ciphertext strings to plaintext strings of a different format. Plaintext strings may have a format defined by a first regular expression. Corresponding ciphertext strings may have a format defined by a second regular expression that is different than the first regular expression. During encryption operations, a format-translating encryption algorithm may employ a format-preserving encryption (FPE) encryption algorithm. During decryption operations, a format-translating encryption algorithm may employ an FPE decryption algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad B. Hansen, Jacob Green, Michael S. Leong
  • Patent number: 8595850
    Abstract: A token generating organization may include distributed tokenization systems for generating tokens corresponding to sensitive information. Sensitive information may include sensitive numbers such as social security numbers, credit card numbers or other private numbers. A tokenization system may include multiple physically distinct hardware platforms each having a tokenization server and a database. A tokenization server may run portions of a sensitive number through a predetermined number of rounds of a Feistel network. Each round of the Feistel network may include tokenizing portions of the sensitive number using a fractional token table stored an associated database and modifying the tokenized portions by reversibly adding portions of the sensitive number to the tokenized portions. The fractional token table may include partial sensitive numbers and corresponding partial tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Richard T. Minner
  • Patent number: 8571995
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for securing payment card information. A user may present a payment card such as a credit card to point-of-sale equipment. The point-of-sale equipment may encrypt the payment card information. An encryption algorithm may be used that takes as inputs a first part of the payment card information, a tweak formed by a second part of the payment card information, and an encryption key. The encrypted payment card information may be conveyed to a gateway over a communications network. The gateway may identify which encryption algorithm was used in encrypting the payment card information and may re-encrypt the payment card information using a format preserving encryption algorithm. A network-based service may be used to remotely perform functions for the gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Matthew J. Pauker
  • Publication number: 20130121486
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing email are provided. Some of the email may be encrypted using identity-based-encryption (IBE) techniques. When an incoming IBE-encrypted message for a recipient in an organization is received by a gateway at the organization, the gateway may request an IBE private key from an IBE private key generator. The IBE private key generator may generate the requested IBE private key for the gateway. The gateway may use an IBE decryption engine to decrypt the incoming message. The decrypted message can be scanned for viruses and spam and delivered to the recipient. Outgoing email messages can also be processed. If indicated by message attributes or information provided by a message sender, an outgoing message can be encrypted using an IBE encryption engine and the IBE public key of a desired recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Voltage Security, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8429232
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using digital signatures to help distinguish legitimate email from known or trusted organizations from unsolicited email or forged email. Digital signatures may be used in an email body, mail header, or embedded links. The signatures may be verified by a recipient or internet service provider and may be used in conjunction with spam filtering applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Guido Appenzeller, Timothy Y. Choi, Matthew J. Pauker
  • Patent number: 8353023
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing email are provided. Some of the email may be encrypted using identity-based-encryption (IBE) techniques. When an incoming IBE-encrypted message for a recipient in an organization is received by a gateway at the organization, the gateway may request an IBE private key from an IBE private key generator. The IBE private key generator may generate the requested IBE private key for the gateway. The gateway may use an IBE decryption engine to decrypt the incoming message. The decrypted message can be scanned for viruses and spam and delivered to the recipient. Outgoing email messages can also be processed. If indicated by message attributes or information provided by a message sender, an outgoing message can be encrypted using an IBE encryption engine and the IBE public key of a desired recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8320559
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting symmetric-bilinear-map and asymmetric-bilinear-map identity-based-encryption (IBE) key exchange and encryption schemes are provided. IBE key exchange schemes use an IBE encapsulation engine to produce a secret key and an encapsulated version of the secret key. An IBE unencapsulation engine is used to unencapsulate the encapsulated key. IBE encryption schemes use an IBE encryption engine to produce ciphertext from plaintext. An IBE decryption engine is used to decrypt the ciphertext to reveal the plaintext. The IBE unencapsulation engine and decryption engines use bilinear maps. The IBE encapsulation and encryption engines perform group multiplication operations without using bilinear maps, improving efficiency. IBE private keys for use in decryption and unencapsulation operations may be generated using a distributed key arrangement in which each IBE private key is assembled from private key shares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Boneh, Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8301889
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses cryptographic techniques to support secure messaging between senders and recipients. A sender may encrypt a message for a recipient using the recipient's public key. The sender may send the encrypted message to the message address of a given recipient. A server may be used to decrypt the encrypted message for the recipient, so that the recipient need not install a decryption engine on the recipient's equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies, Rishi R. Kacker, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8254571
    Abstract: A halting key derivation function is provided. A setup process scrambles a user-supplied password and a random string in a loop. When the loop is halted by user input, the setup process may generate verification information and a cryptographic key. The key may be used to encrypt data. During a subsequent password verification and key recovery process, the verification information is retrieved, a user-supplied trial password obtained, and both are used together to recover the key using a loop computation. During the loop, the verification process repeatedly tests the results produced by the looping scrambling function against the verification information. In case of match, the trial password is correct and a cryptographic key matching the key produced by the setup process may be generated and used for data decryption. As long as there is no match, the loop may continue indefinitely until interrupted exogenously, such as by user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8208627
    Abstract: Format-preserving encryption and decryption processes are provided. The encryption and decryption processes may use a block cipher. A string that is to be encrypted or decrypted may be converted to a unique binary value. The block cipher may operate on the binary value. If the output of the block cipher that is produced is not representative of a string that is in the same format as the original string, the block cipher may be applied again. The block cipher may be repeatedly applied in this way during format-preserving encryption operations and during format-preserving decryption operations until a format-compliant output is produced. Selective access may be provided to portions of a string that have been encrypted using format-preserving encryption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies
  • Patent number: 8171563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for secure messaging are provided. A sender may encrypt content and send the encrypted content to a recipient over a communications network. The encrypted content may be decrypted for the recipient using a remote decryption service. Encrypted message content may be placed into a markup language form. Encrypted content may be incorporated into the form as a hidden form element. Form elements for collecting recipient credential information such as username and password information may also be incorporated into the form. At the recipient, the recipient may use the form to provide recipient credential information to the remote decryption service. The recipient may also use the form to upload the encrypted content from the form to the decryption service. The decryption service may provide the recipient with access to a decrypted version of the uploaded content over the communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Pauker, Rishi R. Kacker, Terence Spies, Lucas C. Ryan, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8145718
    Abstract: Personalization images are included in email messages to combat phishing attacks in which an attacker attempts to trick a user into divulging sensitive information over the Internet. When a recipient of an email message receives a message, the recipient can visually inspect the personalization image in the message. If the personalization image is missing or if the personalization image is not valid, the email recipient is alerted to the possibility of a phishing attack. Email message content may be encrypted. A gateway associated with an email message sender may be used to perform encryption operations on the message content. The gateway may create an html version of the email by placing the encrypted message content in an html wrapper. An image reference corresponding to the personalization image may be embedded in the html version of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishi R. Kacker, Matthew J. Pauker, Guido Appenzeller, Terence Spies
  • Patent number: 8108678
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing digital signing and encryption using identity-based techniques. A message may be signed and encrypted in a single operation and may be decrypted and verified in two separate operations. Messages may be sent anonymously and confidentially. The systems and methods support message confidentiality, signature non-repudiation, and ciphertext authentication, ciphertext unlinkability, and anonymity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8086857
    Abstract: A system is provided that uses identity-based encryption to support secure communications between senders and recipients over a communications network. Private key generators are used to provide public parameter information. Senders encrypt messages for recipients using public keys based on recipient identities and using the public parameter information as inputs to an identity-based encryption algorithm. Recipients use private keys to decrypt the messages. There may be multiple private key generators in the system and a given recipient may have multiple private keys. Senders can include private key identifying information in the messages they send to recipients. The private key identifying information may be used by the recipients to determine which of their private keys to use in decrypting a message. Recipients may obtain the correct private key to use to decrypt a message from a local database of private keys or from an appropriate private key server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Guido Appenzeller, Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies, Rishi R. Kacker
  • Patent number: 8079087
    Abstract: A URL verification service is provided that is used to evaluate the trustworthiness of universal resource locators (URLs). As a user browses the world wide web, the URL for a web page to which the user is browsing is evaluated. A brand and a second level domain portion may be extracted from the URL and used as search engine inputs in evaluating the trustworthiness of the URL. The content of the web page can also be analyzed. Page elements may be extracted from the web page and compared to page elements in a brand indicator table to identify page brands associated with the web page. The brand extracted from the URL is compared to the page brands to detect cross-branding. If cross-branding is detected, the URL verification service helps to prevent the user from submitting sensitive information over the internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Matthew J. Pauker, Rishi R. Kacker, Guido Appenzeller, Sathvik Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 8068612
    Abstract: Cryptographic systems and methods are provided in which authentication operations, digital signature operations, and encryption operations may be performed. Authentication operations may be performed using authentication information. The authentication information may be constructed using a symmetric authentication key or a public/private pair of authentication keys. Users may digitally sign data using private signing keys. Corresponding public signing keys may be used to verify user signatures. Identity-based-encryption (IBE) arrangements may be used for encrypting messages using the identity of a recipient. IBE-encrypted messages may be decrypted using appropriate IBE private keys. A smart card, universal serial bus key, or other security device having a tamper-proof enclosure may use the authentication information to obtain secret key information. Information such as IBE private key information, private signature key information, and authentication information may be stored in the tamper-proof enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Guido Appenzeller, Terence Spies, Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8041953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing email are provided. Some of the email may be encrypted using identity-based-encryption (IBE) techniques. When an incoming IBE-encrypted message for a recipient in an organization is received by a gateway at the organization, the gateway may request an IBE private key from an IBE private key generator. The IBE private key generator may generate the requested IBE private key for the gateway. The gateway may use an IBE decryption engine to decrypt the incoming message. The decrypted message can be scanned for viruses and spam and delivered to the recipient. Outgoing email messages can also be processed. If indicated by message attributes or information provided by a message sender, an outgoing message can be encrypted using an IBE encryption engine and the IBE public key of a desired recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Spies, Guido Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 8023646
    Abstract: IBE extensions to IBE schemes may be provided by creating multiple instances of the same IBE scheme, where each instance has an associated IBE master key and corresponding IBE public parameters. During encryption, an IBE extension identity for each instance of the IBE scheme may be mapped to a corresponding component identity. A message may be encrypted using the component identities to create multiple ciphertexts. The ciphertexts can be combined and sent to a recipient. The recipient can request a private key. The private key may be generated by mapping the IBE extension identity into a component identity in each instance, by extracting private keys for each of the component identities, and by combining the private keys into a single IBE extension private key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventor: Xavier Boyen
  • Patent number: 8024769
    Abstract: A system is provided that allows encrypted content to be distributed to users over a communications network. A policy enforcement service may use an identity-based encryption algorithm to generate public parameter information and private keys. Data content may be encrypted prior to distribution using an identity-based encryption engine. The encryption engine may use the public parameter information from the policy service and public key information to encrypt the data. The public key information may be based on policy information that specifies which types of users are allowed to access the data that is encrypted using that public key. A user may obtain a private key for unlocking particular encrypted data by providing a key request to the policy enforcement service that contains the public key. The policy enforcement service may enforce the policies given by the policy information and may provide private keys only to authorized users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Voltage Security, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishi R. Kacker, Guido Appenzeller, Matthew J. Pauker, Terence Spies