Patent attributes
A device for managing secure communications by examining message packets to detect and control the use of encryption keys noninvasively examines an incoming message packet according to typical cryptographic protocols and sequences. If an incoming packet exhibits the use of an encryption key, such as via IKEP, IPsec, or PPTP, the device processes the packet to attempt to find the corresponding encryption key. The device compares the key to a list of known suspect keys to determine a blocked status. If the key is not on the list, a sequence of authorization rules concerning prohibited key usage attempts to determine a result. The authorization rules examine available keying attributes from the message packet, possibly via a remote server, and compute an indication concerning key usage. If the authorization rules are still undeterministic of usage of the key, the device uses a default action. The default action indicates whether to allow or block usage of the key until a deterministic response indicates the key status.
