Abstract: A method including determining, by a virtual private network (VPN) server providing VPN services to one or more user devices, an average threshold level associated with an aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with a host device during a reference period; determining, by the VPN server, an observed average aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with the host device during an operation period; comparing, by the VPN server, the observed average aggregate amount with the average threshold level; and selectively transmitting, by the VPN server, a notification to the one or more devices indicating that the one or more user devices is to manage transmission of data from the one or more user devices based at least in part on a result of comparing the observed average aggregate amount with the average threshold level. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method comparing, by a user device, an observed characteristic with a determined characteristic, the observed characteristic indicating a current feature included in a current communication associated with a current entity with which the user device is communicating and the determined characteristic indicating an authentic feature included in an authentic communication associated with an authentic entity with which the user device intends to communicate; selectively matching, by the user device based on a result of comparing the observed characteristic with the determined characteristic, current communication information associated with the current communication with authentic communication information associated with the authentic communication; and determining, by the user device based on a result of selectively matching the current communication information with the authentic communication information, that the current entity is the authentic entity or that the current entity is not the authentic entity.

Abstract: A method including pre-authenticating, by an infrastructure device, a user device for obtaining communication services from a server, the pre-authenticating including determining a given duration of time and a communication parameter associated with a pre-authentication request received from the user device; and operating, by the infrastructure device, a port associated with the server in an activated mode for the given duration of time to enable the user device to transmit an authentication request indicating the communication parameter prior to an expiration of the given duration of time. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including configuring, by an infrastructure device, a transmitting device to determine an encryption key that is determined based at least in part on seed information associated with the transmitting device and a receiving device, and to encrypt one or more content messages to be transmitted during a first time interval by utilizing the encryption key; and configuring, by the infrastructure device, the receiving device to determine a decryption key that is determined based at least in part on the seed information associated with the transmitting device and the receiving device, and to decrypt one or more encrypted content messages received during the first time interval by utilizing the decryption key. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including determining aggregate amounts of VPN data communicated by VPN servers with a host device during sample durations of time within a reference period; determining difference amounts indicating differences in the aggregate amounts of VPN data communicated by VPN servers with the host device during successive sample durations of time; determining average aggregate amounts of VPN data communicated by VPN servers with the host device based at least in part on averaging the difference amounts; determining a largest average aggregate amount, from among the average aggregate amounts, as an average threshold level; and selectively adjusting an amount of VPN data communicated by VPN servers with the host device based at least in part on a result of comparing the average threshold level with an observed average aggregate amount of VPN data communicated by VPN servers with the host device. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method determining, by an infrastructure device in communication with a user device, authentic feature information that indicates a characteristic associated with an authentic feature included in an authentic communication associated with an authentic entity, with which the user device intends to communicate over a network; and transmitting, by the infrastructure device to the user device, authentic entity information that includes the authentic feature information and an association between the characteristic associated with the authentic feature and authentic communication information associated with the authentic communication. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including transmitting, by a transmitting device to a receiving device, a combination of messages including encrypted decoy messages and one or more encrypted content messages; determining, by the receiving device, a cryptographic decryption key based at least in part on unique seed information associated with the transmitting device and the receiving device; and determining, by the receiving device, that a message, included in the combination of messages, is a content message or that the message is a decoy message based at least in part on decrypting the message by utilizing the cryptographic decryption key. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a device from a virtual private network (VPN) server, a notification indicating that the device is to manage transmission of data from the device to the VPN server, the notification being received based at least in part on a determination that an observed average aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with a host device satisfies an average threshold level associated with an aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with the host device; and managing, by the device, transmission of the data from the device to the VPN server based at least in part on receiving the notification. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including configuring a virtual private network (VPN) server, having established VPN connections with one or more user devices, aggregate amounts of VPN data communicated with a host device; configuring the VPN server to determine difference amounts indicating differences in the aggregate amounts of VPN data; configuring the VPN server to determine average aggregate amounts of VPN data; configuring the VPN server to determine a largest average aggregate amount, from among the average aggregate amounts, as an average threshold level; and configuring the VPN server to selectively transmit a notification to the one or more devices indicating that the one or more user devices is to manage transmission of data from the one or more user devices based at least in part on a result of comparing the average threshold level with an observed average aggregate amount. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including transmitting, by a user device to an infrastructure device, a first pre-authentication request associated with requesting communication services from a server, the first pre-authentication request indicating a communication parameter associated with the user device; determining, by the user device while obtaining the communication services from the server, a change in the communication parameter such that the user device is associated with a new communication parameter; and transmitting, by the user device to the infrastructure device, a second pre-authentication request associated with obtaining the communication services from the server, the second pre-authentication request indicating the new communication parameter. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a receiving device from a transmitting device, a combination of messages including encrypted decoy messages and one or more encrypted content messages, the encrypted decoy messages being determined based at least in part on encrypting decoy data and the one or more encrypted content messages being determined based at least in part on encrypting content data; and decrypting, by the receiving device, a received message included in the combination of messages based at least in part on utilizing a cryptographic key; and determining, by the receiving device, that the received message is a content message or that the received message is a decoy message based at least in part on a result of decrypting the received message. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including determining, by a transmitting device in communication with a receiving device, encrypted decoy messages based at least in part on encrypting decoy data utilizing an encryption key; determining, by the transmitting device, one or more encrypted content messages based at least in part on encrypting content data utilizing a cryptographic key, different from the encryption key; and transmitting, by the transmitting device to the receiving device, the one or more encrypted content messages among the encrypted decoy messages. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including transmitting, by a transmitting device to a receiving device, a combination of messages including encrypted decoy messages and one or more encrypted content messages; determining, by the receiving device, a cryptographic decryption key based at least in part on unique seed information associated with the transmitting device and the receiving device; and determining, by the receiving device, that a message, included in the combination of messages, is a content message or that the message is a decoy message based at least in part on decrypting the message by utilizing the cryptographic decryption key. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a receiving device from a transmitting device, a combination of messages including encrypted decoy messages and one or more encrypted content messages, the encrypted decoy messages being determined based at least in part on encrypting decoy data and the one or more encrypted content messages being determined based at least in part on encrypting content data; and decrypting, by the receiving device, a received message included in the combination of messages based at least in part on utilizing a cryptographic key; and determining, by the receiving device, that the received message is a content message or that the received message is a decoy message based at least in part on a result of decrypting the received message. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including configuring, by an infrastructure device, a transmitting device to determine an encryption key that is determined based at least in part on seed information associated with the transmitting device and a receiving device, and to encrypt one or more content messages to be transmitted during a first time interval by utilizing the encryption key; and configuring, by the infrastructure device, the receiving device to determine a decryption key that is determined based at least in part on the seed information associated with the transmitting device and the receiving device, and to decrypt one or more encrypted content messages received during the first time interval by utilizing the decryption key. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including transmitting, by a user device to an infrastructure device, a first pre-authentication request associated with requesting communication services from a server, the first pre-authentication request indicating a communication parameter associated with the user device; determining, by the user device while obtaining the communication services from the server, a change in the communication parameter such that the user device is associated with a new communication parameter; and transmitting, by the user device to the infrastructure device, a second pre-authentication request associated with obtaining the communication services from the server, the second pre-authentication request indicating the new communication parameter. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including pre-authenticating, by an infrastructure device, a user device for obtaining communication services from a server, the pre-authenticating including determining a given duration of time and a communication parameter associated with a pre-authentication request received from the user device; and operating, by the infrastructure device, a port associated with the server in an activated mode for the given duration of time to enable the user device to transmit an authentication request indicating the communication parameter prior to an expiration of the given duration of time. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including determining, by a transmitting device in communication with a receiving device, encrypted decoy messages based at least in part on encrypting decoy data utilizing an encryption key; determining, by the transmitting device, one or more encrypted content messages based at least in part on encrypting content data utilizing a cryptographic key, different from the encryption key; and transmitting, by the transmitting device to the receiving device, the one or more encrypted content messages among the encrypted decoy messages. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including receiving, by a device from a virtual private network (VPN) server, a notification indicating that the device is to manage transmission of data from the device to the VPN server, the notification being received based at least in part on a determination that an observed average aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with a host device satisfies an average threshold level associated with an aggregate amount of VPN data communicated with the host device; and managing, by the device, transmission of the data from the device to the VPN server based at least in part on receiving the notification. Various other aspects are contemplated.

Abstract: A method including configuring a virtual private network (VPN) server, having established VPN connections with one or more user devices, aggregate amounts of VPN data communicated with a host device; configuring the VPN server to determine difference amounts indicating differences in the aggregate amounts of VPN data; configuring the VPN server to determine average aggregate amounts of VPN data; configuring the VPN server to determine a largest average aggregate amount, from among the average aggregate amounts, as an average threshold level; and configuring the VPN server to selectively transmit a notification to the one or more devices indicating that the one or more user devices is to manage transmission of data from the one or more user devices based at least in part on a result of comparing the average threshold level with an observed average aggregate amount. Various other aspects are contemplated.