Abstract: According to one embodiment, in response to a request received from an application by a launch module hosted by an operating system and executed by a processor to dynamically load a library, a library validation module hosted by the operating system extracts a first team identifier (ID) from the application, where the first team ID identifies an application provider that provides the application. The library validation module extracts a second team ID from the library, where the second team ID identifies a library provider that provides the library. The first team ID and the second team ID are compared to determine whether the first team ID matches the second team ID. In response to determining that the first team ID matches the second team ID, the launch module launches the library to allow the application communicate with the library; otherwise, the request is denied.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a program for recovering access to a service associated with an account. The program provides a login credential to log into the account to receive the associated service. Next, the program receives an access continuation parameter (ACP) after logging into the account. The program then accesses the service and receives a rejection of a subsequent access to the service. The program then provides the ACP in lieu of the login credential to continue to receive the service.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a program for recovering access to an account. The program receives an access recovery parameter (ARP) after providing a first credential to log into an account and providing a notification of a second credential necessary for accessing another resource. The program then receives a request to modify the first credential and receives the second credential. Next, after authenticating the second credential, the program uses the ARP to modify the first credential without providing the first credential.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in response to a request received from an application by a launch module hosted by an operating system and executed by a processor to dynamically load a library, a library validation module hosted by the operating system extracts a first team identifier (ID) from the application, where the first team ID identifies an application provider that provides the application. The library validation module extracts a second team ID from the library, where the second team ID identifies a library provider that provides the library. The first team ID and the second team ID are compared to determine whether the first team ID matches the second team ID. In response to determining that the first team ID matches the second team ID, the launch module launches the library to allow the application communicate with the library; otherwise, the request is denied.

Abstract: In response to a request for launching a program, a list of one or more application frameworks to be accessed by the program during execution of the program is determined. Zero or more entitlements representing one or more resources entitled by the program during the execution are determined. A set of one or more rules based on the entitlements of the program is obtained from at least one of the application frameworks. The set of one or more rules specifies one or more constraints of resources associated with the at least one application framework. A security profile is dynamically compiled for the program based on the set of one or more rules associated with the at least one application framework. The compiled security profile is used to restrict the program from accessing at least one resource of the at least one application frameworks during the execution of the program.

Abstract: Techniques for managing security of a data processing system are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request for modifying a security settings of a data processing system, a message is displayed on a display of the data processing system to request a user who operates the data processing system to perform a physical action to prove that the user was physically present to issue the request for modifying the security settings. It is verified whether a user action physically performed by the user conforms to the requested physical action. The security settings of the data processing system is modified, in response to determining that the user action conforms to the requested physical action.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting illegitimate or spoofed links on a web page. Illegitimate links can be detected by receiving a web link that includes link text and a link address, generating normalized link text based upon the link text, wherein characters in the link text that are visually similar are represented by a single normalized character identifier in the normalized text, determining whether the normalized link text is in the format of a link address, and determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text is not in the format of a link address. The techniques disclosed herein further involve determining whether the normalized link text matches the link address, determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text matches the link address, and determining that the text is unsafe when the normalized link text does not match the link address.

Abstract: When an application is launched, a framework scanning module scans a plurality of frameworks linked against by the application to generate a list of available services. When the application makes a request of a particular service, a service verification module compares the requested service to the list of available services and if the requested service is found in the list of available services, sends a signal to the application, the signal allowing access to the requested service for the application. Otherwise, access to the requested service is denied.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and machine readable medium are described for managing entitlements on a computing device. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: loading a first application into a system memory of a computing device; for each library value/symbol pair referenced by the first application, determining whether the first application has a correct entitlement to be linked with the library value/symbol pair; wherein if the application does not have the correct entitlement associated with the library value/symbol pair, then denying linking to the library value/symbol pair and/or linking the application to an alternate library value/symbol pair which does not have the entitlement associated therewith; and if the application has the correct entitlement associated with the library value/symbol pair, then linking the application to the library value/symbol pair with the entitlement in the system memory.

Abstract: Techniques for handling security of an application and its extension are described. In one embodiment, an application manager of an operating system running within a data processing system launches an application in a first sandboxed environment based on a first security profile associated with the application. In response to receiving a request from the application for accessing a function of an application extension that is associated with the application, the application manager launches the application extension in a second sandboxed environment based on a second security profile associated with the application extension. The application manager is to individually enforce security and manage resources of the application and the application extension in the first and second sandboxed environments based on the first and second security profiles, respectively. The second security profile specifies resources fewer than the first security profile.

Abstract: Techniques for access control of a data processing system are described. In one embodiment, in response to a request from an application for accessing a resource of a data processing system, it is determined a first class of resources the requested resource belongs. A second class of resources the application is entitled to access is determined based on a resource entitlement encoded within the application and authorized by a predetermined authority. The application is allowed to access the resource if the first class and the second class of resources are matched. The application is denied from accessing the resource if the first class and the second class are not matched, regardless an operating privilege level of the application.

Abstract: Techniques for managing security of a data processing system are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request for modifying a security settings of a data processing system, a message is displayed on a display of the data processing system to request a user who operates the data processing system to perform a physical action to prove that the user was physically present to issue the request for modifying the security settings. It is verified whether a user action physically performed by the user conforms to the requested physical action. The security settings of the data processing system is modified, in response to determining that the user action conforms to the requested physical action.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in response to an inquiry received from a first application for an extension service associated with a first of a plurality of extension points of an operating system, a list of one or more extensions is identified that have been registered for the first extension point with the operating system, where the first application is executed within a first sandboxed environment. The identified list of extensions is displayed to prompt a user to select one of the extensions to be associated with the first application. In response to a selection of one of the extensions, the selected extension is launched in a second sandboxed environment. The selected extension and the second application were packaged in an application bundle, and when the application bundle was installed, the selected extension and the second application appeared in a registry of the operating system as separate applications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting illegitimate or spoofed links on a web page. Illegitimate links can be detected by receiving a web link that includes link text and a link address, generating normalized link text based upon the link text, wherein characters in the link text that are visually similar are represented by a single normalized character identifier in the normalized text, determining whether the normalized link text is in the format of a link address, and determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text is not in the format of a link address. The techniques disclosed herein further involve determining whether the normalized link text matches the link address, determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text matches the link address, and determining that the text is unsafe when the normalized link text does not match the link address.

Abstract: When an application is launched, a framework scanning module scans a plurality of frameworks linked against by the application to generate a list of available services. When the application makes a request of a particular service, a service verification module compares the requested service to the list of available services and if the requested service is found in the list of available services, sends a signal to the application, the signal allowing access to the requested service for the application. Otherwise, access to the requested service is denied.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable storage medium are described wherein, in one embodiment, identifiers, such as bookmarks, are used to allow access to files or folders in a sandboxed environment. One or more applications are restricted by an access control system, which can be, for example, a trusted software component of an operating system. In one embodiment, the bookmarks or other identifiers allow an application to have access to a file even if the file is renamed or moved by a user while the application has been terminated. In one embodiment, a resource manager, or other trusted access control system, can interact with an application to allow for the use of bookmarks in an environment in which a sandbox application controls access to the files such that each application must make a request to the sandbox application in order to obtain access to a particular file or folder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting illegitimate or spoofed links on a web page. Illegitimate links can be detected by receiving a web link that includes link text and a link address, generating normalized link text based upon the link text, wherein characters in the link text that are visually similar are represented by a single normalized character identifier in the normalized text, determining whether the normalized link text is in the format of a link address, and determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text is not in the format of a link address. The techniques disclosed herein further involve determining whether the normalized link text matches the link address, determining that the text is safe when the normalized link text matches the link address, and determining that the text is unsafe when the normalized link text does not match the link address.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a graphics management system receives a first message from a first process for granting one or more rights to a second process for accessing a GUI element owned by the first process. In response, the graphics management system transmits a second message to the second process, the second message offering the one or more rights to the second process. The graphics management system receives a third message from the second process indicating an acceptance of the offer. Thereafter, the graphics management system restricts access of the GUI element by the second process based on the one or more rights accepted by the second process.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a graphics management system receives a first message from a first process for granting one or more rights to a second process for accessing a GUI element owned by the first process. In response, the graphics management system transmits a second message to the second process, the second message offering the one or more rights to the second process. The graphics management system receives a third message from the second process indicating an acceptance of the offer. Thereafter, the graphics management system restricts access of the GUI element by the second process based on the one or more rights accepted by the second process.

Abstract: When an application is launched, a framework scanning module scans a plurality of frameworks linked against by the application to generate a list of available services. When the application makes a request of a particular service, a service verification module compares the requested service to the list of available services and if the requested service is found in the list of available services, sends a signal to the application, the signal allowing access to the requested service for the application. Otherwise, access to the requested service is denied.