Trend Micro Inc.

Li-Ming Chen

Chin-Ju Lin

A file policy is created for each confidential file in a server computer including a list of events and a corresponding action. The file policies for the confidential files are sent to each client computer in the computer network. A software agent on each client computer detects when an activity occurs that affects one of the confidential files having a file policy. The activity is reported to the server computer and, if the activity matches an event in the policy, the corresponding action is taken. Events include: copying a file, printing, accessing, sending via e-mail, renaming, etc. Actions include: alerting an administrator, temporary blocking the activity or preventing the activity. If the activity is temporarily blocked from occurring, the agent queries the user as to whether the user wishes to request approval, and forwards that requests on to the server computer. If the activity is approved then the software agent removes the temporary block from the user activity and allows the user's activity concerning the confidential file to occur.

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Yonghe, Taiwan

Li-Ming Chen