System and method for protecting certificate applications using a hardened proxy

Abstract

A system for preventing computer software from communicating from a user computer in a network to untrusted remote computers. A host-based credential management agent is operably connected to a user computer for intercepting network traffic information from the user computer and transmitting a network request including credentials of the remote computer and the network traffic information. A trusted credential database contains information identifying trusted entities and corresponding cryptographic certificates. A server cooperates with the management agent for i) verifying whether the user computer in the network request should have network access, and ii) cryptographically signing the intercepted network traffic information with an authorization server key, to authorize network access for the intercepted information. A firewall is operably connected to the user computer and the authorization server. It is configured to inspect the traffic information from the user computer and reject any traffic information not signed with the key.