Patents by Inventor Kevin Mahaffey

Kevin Mahaffey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10489862
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure help protect computing devices by, among other things, identifying events that may pose a risk to a computing device based on data from sensors coupled to the computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: John Gunther Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, Brian James Buck, William Neil Robinson
  • Patent number: 10165083
    Abstract: A software application is automatically launched on a first computing device. The launch of the application is a first execution of the application by the first computing device. In response to this launching, the application executes to automatically obtain data from the first computing device. The data is sent to a second computing device that is configured to provide a service to the first computing device (e.g., based on the data).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: David Richardson, Kevin Mahaffey, Jonathan Grubb
  • Publication number: 20160343083
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure help protect computing devices by, among other things, identifying events that may pose a risk to a computing device based on data from sensors coupled to the computer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: John Gunther Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, Brian James Buck, William Neil Robinson
  • Patent number: 9407443
    Abstract: Detection, identification, and control of application behavior dealing with malware, security risks, data privacy, or resource usage can be difficult in an era of complex, composite software applications composed of multiple components. Software applications are analyzed to determine their components and to identify the behaviors associated with each of the components. Components can also be analyzed with respect to similarity of previously known components. Behaviors can include use of personal identifying information or device information, or any actions that can be taken by applications on the device, including user interface displays, notifications, network communications, and file reading or writing actions. Policies to control or restrict the behavior of applications and their components may be defined and applied. In one embodiment this can include the identification of advertising networks and defining policies to permit various opt-out actions for these advertising networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Micheal Wyatt, Kevin Mahaffey, Derek Joseph Halliday
  • Publication number: 20160173647
    Abstract: A software application is automatically launched on a first computing device. The launch of the application is a first execution of the application by the first computing device. In response to this launching, the application executes to automatically obtain data from the first computing device. The data is sent to a second computing device that is configured to provide a service to the first computing device (e.g., based on the data).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: David Richardson, Kevin Mahaffey, Jonathan Grubb
  • Patent number: 9307412
    Abstract: A method for evaluating security during an interactive service operation by a mobile communications device includes launching, by a mobile communications device, an interactive service configured to access a server over a network during an interactive service operation, and generating a security evaluation based on a plurality of trust factors related to a current state of the mobile communications device, to a security feature of the application, and/or to a security feature of the network. When the security evaluation is generated, an action is performed based on the security evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Halliday, Bruno Bergher, Kevin Mahaffey, Brian Buck, Abheek Gupta
  • Patent number: 9288608
    Abstract: Mobile devices often communicate with network services that require an account. Because it may be undesirable to require user interaction when creating an account, it may be desirable to automatically create an account associating a mobile device to a network service after a new application is installed on the mobile device. In an embodiment, a new application is remotely installed on a mobile device. After the installation, the device monitors itself for an occurrence of an event. In response to detecting the occurrence, the device launches the new application. After the launch, the new application automatically obtains data from the mobile device, and then sends the data to a server that automatically creates an account for the user. The server also provides a service associated with the account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: David Richardson, Kevin Mahaffey, Jonathan Grubb
  • Patent number: 9245119
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide a security component on a server that may be in communication with a database containing mobile device security information. The server security component may receive event information regarding a mobile device from a local security component on the mobile device. The event information may be processed by the server to assess the security state of the mobile device by comparing the event information to the mobile device security information. Based on the processing, an assessment of the security state of the mobile device may be output by the server for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Mahaffey, John G. Hering, James Burgess
  • Patent number: 9215074
    Abstract: Detection, identification, and control of application behavior dealing with malware, security risks, data privacy, or resource usage can be difficult in an era of complex, composite software applications composed of multiple components. Software applications are analyzed to determine their components and to identify the behaviors associated with each of the components. Components can also be analyzed with respect to similarity of previously known components. Behaviors can include use of personal identifying information or device information, or any actions that can be taken by applications on the device, including user interface displays, notifications, network communications, and file reading or writing actions. Policies to control or restrict the behavior of applications and their components may be defined and applied. In one embodiment this can include the identification of advertising networks and defining policies to permit various opt-out actions for these advertising networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Micheal Wyatt, Kevin Mahaffey, Derek Joseph Halliday, David Richardson
  • Patent number: 9208215
    Abstract: Data regarding user actions on a user device is gathered from the user device (and/or from another computing device) by a server. The data is analyzed to make a decision. The decision is sent by the server to the user device (e.g., directly or via another computing device) and then used by the user device to implement a new action on the user device. This process may be automatically repeated in order to provide real-time customization of the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Mahaffey, Brian James Buck, Thomson Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9065846
    Abstract: A security analysis of data received on a mobile communications device includes gathering information about the data through at least two of multiple network interfaces, each of the at least two network interfaces having different protocols. Based upon the gathering, a first protocol is assigned to the data received from a first of the at least two network interfaces. A second protocol is assigned to the data received from a second of the at least two network interfaces. A common security analysis is performed on at least a part of the data received from each of the first and second network interfaces to determine whether the data received by the mobile communications device is safe or malicious.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Mahaffey
  • Publication number: 20150087270
    Abstract: Mobile devices often communicate with network services that require an account. Because it may be undesirable to require user interaction when creating an account, it may be desirable to automatically create an account associating a mobile device to a network service after a new application is installed on the mobile device. In an embodiment, a new application is remotely installed on a mobile device. After the installation, the device monitors itself for an occurrence of an event. In response to detecting the occurrence, the device launches the new application. After the launch, the new application automatically obtains data from the mobile device, and then sends the data to a server that automatically creates an account for the user. The server also provides a service associated with the account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: David Richardson, Kevin Mahaffey, Jonathan Grubb
  • Patent number: 8938810
    Abstract: Mobile devices may often communicate with network (“cloud”) services that require an account. Because it may be undesirable to require user interaction when creating an account, it may be desirable to create an account associating a mobile device to a network service without requiring a user to explicitly enter authentication information, such as a username and password. In an embodiment, data corresponding to a mobile device is obtained to generate authentication information which is then sent to messaging address of a user. In another embodiment, in response to an event, a mobile device obtains an identifier for a user, sends the identifier to a server, where the server transmits one set of authentication information to a messaging address associated with the user and another set of authentication information to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: David Richardson, Kevin Mahaffey, Jonathan Grubb
  • Publication number: 20140373162
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide a security component on a server that may be in communication with a database containing mobile device security information. The server security component may receive event information regarding a mobile device from a local security component on the mobile device. The event information may be processed by the server to assess the security state of the mobile device by comparing the event information to the mobile device security information. Based on the processing, an assessment of the security state of the mobile device may be output by the server for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin Mahaffey, John G. Hering, James Burgess
  • Publication number: 20140325586
    Abstract: A method for evaluating security during an interactive service operation by a mobile communications device includes launching, by a mobile communications device, an interactive service configured to access a server over a network during an interactive service operation, and generating a security evaluation based on a plurality of trust factors related to a current state of the mobile communications device, to a security feature of the application, and/or to a security feature of the network. When the security evaluation is generated, an action is performed based on the security evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Halliday, Bruno Bergher, Kevin Mahaffey, Brian Buck, Abheek Gupta
  • Patent number: 8855601
    Abstract: Mobile devices typically have some form of audio capabilities designed to be operated by the device's user, for example to place phone calls; however, if a device is misplaced or stolen, the user may wish to operate those audio capabilities remotely. Techniques are provided for determining when an audio transmission should be established between a device and one or more clients, and sending a command to initiate the audio transmission. The determination may be based on receiving a request from a client, detecting at a server that the device is lost or stolen, or detecting at the device that the device is missing. The audio transmission may be established without user intervention at the device or in response to user action at the portable electronic device. Device settings such as audio settings at the device may be overridden in connection with the audio transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: Vance Grkov, David Richardson, Ayan Mandal, Cherry Mangat, Kevin Mahaffey
  • Patent number: RE46768
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for identifying, assessing, and responding to vulnerabilities on a mobile communication device. Information about the mobile communication device, such as its operating system, firmware version, or software configuration, is transmitted to a server for assessment. The server accesses a data storage storing information about vulnerabilities. Based on the received information, the server may identify those vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device, and may transmit a notification to remediate those vulnerabilities. The server may also transmit result information about the vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device. The server may also store the received information about the device, so that in the event the server learns of new vulnerabilities, it may continue to assess whether the device is affected, and may accordingly notify or remediate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: John G. Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, James Burgess
  • Patent number: RE47757
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for identifying, assessing, and responding to vulnerabilities on a mobile communication device. Information about the mobile communication device, such as its operating system, firmware version, or software configuration, is transmitted to a server for assessment. The server accesses a data storage storing information about vulnerabilities. Based on the received information, the server may identify those vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device, and may transmit a notification to remediate those vulnerabilities. The server may also transmit result information about the vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device. The server may also store the received information about the device, so that in the event the server learns of new vulnerabilities, it may continue to assess whether the device is affected, and may accordingly notify or remediate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC.
    Inventors: John G. Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, James Burgess
  • Patent number: RE48669
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for identifying, assessing, and responding to vulnerabilities on a mobile communication device. Information about the mobile communication device, such as its operating system, firmware version, or software configuration, is transmitted to a server for assessment. The server accesses a data storage storing information about vulnerabilities. Based on the received information, the server may identify those vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device, and may transmit a notification to remediate those vulnerabilities. The server may also transmit result information about the vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device. The server may also store the received information about the device, so that in the event the server learns of new vulnerabilities, it may continue to assess whether the device is affected, and may accordingly notify or remediate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, James Burgess
  • Patent number: RE49634
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for identifying, assessing, and responding to vulnerabilities on a mobile communication device. Information about the mobile communication device, such as its operating system, firmware version, or software configuration, is transmitted to a server for assessment. The server accesses a data storage storing information about vulnerabilities. Based on the received information, the server may identify those vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device, and may transmit a notification to remediate those vulnerabilities. The server may also transmit result information about the vulnerabilities affecting the mobile communication device. The server may also store the received information about the device, so that in the event the server learns of new vulnerabilities, it may continue to assess whether the device is affected, and may accordingly notify or remediate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Lookout, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Hering, Kevin Mahaffey, James Burgess