Guarding security sensitive content using confined mobile agents

ABSTRACT

Mobile code and mobile agents are generally associated with security vulnerabilities, rather than with increased security. This paper describes an approach in which mobile agents are confined, in order to allow content providers to retain control over how their data is exported while allowing agents to search the full content of this data locally. This approach offers increased control and security compared to the traditional client-server technologies commonly used for building distributed systems. We describe a new system, called Mansion, which implements confinement of mobile agents, and describe a number of applications of the confinement model to illustrate its potential.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
        I.2.11 Distributed Artificial Intelligence
            Subjects: Intelligent agents

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.4 Systems and Software

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.5 Security and Protection (D.4.6, K.4.2)

General Terms:
Design, Management, Security

Keywords:
confinement, information flow control, mobile agents