Patents by Inventor Steven E. Sinks

Steven E. Sinks 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).

  • Publication number: 20250126139
    Abstract: A network security computing system includes a steganographic communications analysis engine monitoring incoming and outgoing messages on a secure computing network. The steganographic communications analysis engine identifies a pattern of file transfers between a first computing device on the secure computing network and an internal or external message recipient. When a pattern is identified, the steganographic communications analysis engine quarantines an associated computing device from the secure network. The steganographic communications analysis engine analyzes files transferred between the computing device and the recipient for indications of steganographic information and causes display, based on an identified indication of steganography, an indication that the computing device had been compromised by command and control malware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Patent number: 12267348
    Abstract: A network traffic correlation engine monitors inbound and/or outbound connection information received from on each host computer system on a network. Each host device on the network store data logs corresponding to information corresponding to communications sent by the device and received by the device. The network traffic correlation engine correlates connections between different hosts throughout the network. If the network traffic correlation engine identified unmatched outbound and inbound connections, the network traffic correlation engine generates an alert to initiate further investigation and may also provide a mapping of the communications showing a possible start device for the connection and/or a type of access that the connections may now be providing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20250097256
    Abstract: A network environment scanning engine may monitor electronic communications received via an external computing network and by an enterprise computing system. The network environment canning engine after receipt of an electronic message, analyze the electronic message to identify, by a network environment scanning engine using a machine learning algorithm, executable code for execution by a processor of computing device addressed as a recipient of the message. The network environment scanning engine further analyzes, using a machine-learning based algorithm in a virtual security environment, the executable code to identify whether the executable code comprises one or more environment variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20250077290
    Abstract: Software code optimization for specific computerized tasks is achieved by utilizing task-specific ML models that are trained to determine optimal sets of software code by intelligently assessing available hardware resources (i.e., specifically, processing devices, such as CPUs and GPUs) and, in some instances, SDKs for a specified task and, as a result, determining an optimal set of software codes for the specified task that is tied to one or more of the available hardware resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua Abraham, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20250069041
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to email verification. A computing platform may receive an electronic message and identify one or more portions of content in the message. Then, the computing platform may generate and embed one or more message-specific identifiers into the electronic message and store electronic message information associating the one or more portions of content with the one or more embedded message-specific identifiers. Thereafter, the computing platform may receive an electronic message verification request to verify authenticity of an identified electronic message received by a computing device. The computing platform may prompt a user of the computing device to provide authentication information associated with one or more portions of content of the identified electronic message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks, Brian P. Prange, Matthew W. Findley, Jared D. Wilson, Donald Hess, Brian Devine
  • Patent number: 12238135
    Abstract: A network environment scanning engine may monitor electronic communications received via an external computing network and by an enterprise computing system. The network environment scanning engine after receipt of an electronic message, analyze the electronic message to identify, by a network environment scanning engine using a machine learning algorithm, executable code for execution by a processor of computing device addressed as a recipient of the message. The network environment scanning engine further analyzes, using a machine-learning based algorithm in a virtual security environment, the executable code to identify whether the executable code comprises one or more environment variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Patent number: 12231446
    Abstract: A network security computing system includes a steganographic communications analysis engine monitoring incoming and outgoing messages on a secure computing network. The steganographic communications analysis engine identifies a pattern of file transfers between a first computing device on the secure computing network and an internal or external message recipient. When a pattern is identified, the steganographic communications analysis engine quarantines an associated computing device from the secure network. The steganographic communications analysis engine analyzes files transferred between the computing device and the recipient for indications of steganographic information and causes display, based on an identified indication of steganography, an indication that the computing device had been compromised by command and control malware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Publication number: 20240121257
    Abstract: A network traffic correlation engine monitors inbound and/or outbound connection information received from on each host computer system on a network. Each host device on the network store data logs corresponding to information corresponding to communications sent by the device and received by the device. The network traffic correlation engine correlates connections between different hosts throughout the network. If the network traffic correlation engine identified unmatched outbound and inbound connections, the network traffic correlation engine generates an alert to initiate further investigation and may also provide a mapping of the communications showing a possible start device for the connection and/or a type of access that the connections may now be providing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20240121251
    Abstract: A network security computing system includes a steganographic communications analysis engine monitoring incoming and outgoing messages on a secure computing network. The steganographic communications analysis engine identifies a pattern of file transfers between a first computing device on the secure computing network and an internal or external message recipient. When a pattern is identified, the steganographic communications analysis engine quarantines an associated computing device from the secure network. The steganographic communications analysis engine analyzes files transferred between the computing device and the recipient for indications of steganographic information and causes display, based on an identified indication of steganography, an indication that the computing device had been compromised by command and control malware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Patent number: 11949696
    Abstract: A system determines baseline deployment properties of operating system deployments stored by a deployment repository and endpoint deployment properties of a deployed operating system executed by an endpoint device. An artificial intelligence model is configured to determine a security response based at least in part on the endpoint deployment properties of the endpoint device. By providing the endpoint deployment properties to the artificial intelligence model, a mismatch value is determined that corresponds to an amount that the endpoint deployment properties are different than the baseline deployment properties. Based on the mismatch value, an action is determined to improve security of the deployed operating system executed by the endpoint device. The determined action is executed to improve security of the deployed operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wayne Texada, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20240106729
    Abstract: A lateral movement identification tool analyzes communications sent and received from a local host to identify potential instances of lateral movement. When the host-based lateral movement identification tool identifies a host to host connection, the tool processes one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze information from local network resources including a directory service, a local network system such as a network basic input/output system, a domain name system, and event logs. The lateral movement identification tool correlates the aggregated information with identified host to host messaging and sends alerts when lateral movement is suspected. Alerts may be either presented locally or provided to a central console based on configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E, Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Patent number: 11888882
    Abstract: A network traffic correlation engine monitors inbound and/or outbound connection information received from on each host computer system on a network. Each host device on the network store data logs corresponding to information corresponding to communications sent by the device and received by the device. The network traffic correlation engine correlates connections between different hosts throughout the network. If the network traffic correlation engine identified unmatched outbound and inbound connections, the network traffic correlation engine generates an alert to initiate further investigation and may also provide a mapping of the communications showing a possible start device for the connection and/or a type of access that the connections may now be providing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Patent number: 11888720
    Abstract: A lateral movement identification tool analyzes communications sent and received from a local host to identify potential instances of lateral movement. When the host-based lateral movement identification tool identifies a host to host connection, the tool processes one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze information from local network resources including a directory service, a local network system such as a network basic input/output system, a domain name system, and event logs. The lateral movement identification tool correlates the aggregated information with identified host to host messaging and sends alerts when lateral movement is suspected. Alerts may be either presented locally or provided to a central console based on configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Patent number: 11816638
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to email verification. A computing platform may receive an electronic message and identify one or more portions of content in the message. Then, the computing platform may generate and embed one or more message-specific identifiers into the electronic message and store electronic message information associating the one or more portions of content with the one or more embedded message-specific identifiers. Thereafter, the computing platform may receive an electronic message verification request to verify authenticity of an identified electronic message received by a computing device. The computing platform may prompt a user of the computing device to provide authentication information associated with one or more portions of content of the identified electronic message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks, Brian P. Prange, Matthew W. Findley, Jared D. Wilson, Donald C. Hess, Brian Devine
  • Publication number: 20230208739
    Abstract: A lateral movement identification tool analyzes communications sent and received from a local host to identify potential instances of lateral movement. When the host-based lateral movement identification tool identifies a host to host connection, the tool processes one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze information from local network resources including a directory service, a local network system such as a network basic input/output system, a domain name system, and event logs. The lateral movement identification tool correlates the aggregated information with identified host to host messaging and sends alerts when lateral movement is suspected. Alerts may be either presented locally or provided to a central console based on configuration information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Publication number: 20230199004
    Abstract: A system determines baseline deployment properties of operating system deployments stored by a deployment repository and endpoint deployment properties of a deployed operating system executed by an endpoint device. An artificial intelligence model is configured to determine a security response based at least in part on the endpoint deployment properties of the endpoint device. By providing the endpoint deployment properties to the artificial intelligence model, a mismatch value is determined that corresponds to an amount that the endpoint deployment properties are different than the baseline deployment properties. Based on the mismatch value, an action is determined to improve security of the deployed operating system executed by the endpoint device. The determined action is executed to improve security of the deployed operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wayne Texada, Steven E. Sinks
  • Publication number: 20230156029
    Abstract: A network traffic correlation engine monitors inbound and/or outbound connection information received from on each host computer system on a network. Each host device on the network store data logs corresponding to information corresponding to communications sent by the device and received by the device. The network traffic correlation engine correlates connections between different hosts throughout the network. If the network traffic correlation engine identified unmatched outbound and inbound connections, the network traffic correlation engine generates an alert to initiate further investigation and may also provide a mapping of the communications showing a possible start device for the connection and/or a type of access that the connections may now be providing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Patent number: 11632321
    Abstract: A lateral movement identification tool analyzes communications sent and received from a local host to identify potential instances of lateral movement. When the host-based lateral movement identification tool identifies a host to host connection, the tool processes one or more artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze information from local network resources including a directory service, a local network system such as a network basic input/output system, a domain name system, and event logs. The lateral movement identification tool correlates the aggregated information with identified host to host messaging and sends alerts when lateral movement is suspected. Alerts may be either presented locally or provided to a central console based on configuration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy
  • Patent number: 11601457
    Abstract: A network traffic correlation engine monitors inbound and/or outbound connection information received from on each host computer system on a network. Each host device on the network store data logs corresponding to information corresponding to communications sent by the device and received by the device. The network traffic correlation engine correlates connections between different hosts throughout the network. If the network traffic correlation engine identified unmatched outbound and inbound connections, the network traffic correlation engine generates an alert to initiate further investigation and may also provide a mapping of the communications showing a possible start device for the connection and/or a type of access that the connections may now be providing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Sheedy, Steven E. Sinks
  • Patent number: 11575694
    Abstract: A network security computing system includes a steganographic communications analysis engine monitoring incoming and outgoing messages on a secure computing network. The steganographic communications analysis engine identifies a pattern of file transfers between a first computing device on the secure computing network and an internal or external message recipient. When a pattern is identified, the steganographic communications analysis engine quarantines an associated computing device from the secure network. The steganographic communications analysis engine analyzes files transferred between the computing device and the recipient for indications of steganographic information and causes display, based on an identified indication of steganography, an indication that the computing device had been compromised by command and control malware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Sinks, Jonathan Sheedy