SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE DOCUMENT EMBEDDING

摘要

The example non-limiting technology herein uses a Microsoft Office module or other application that automatically encrypts an Office document (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) or other software object and embeds the encrypted data within a “mule” or carrier file of the same type. On user's systems without the module installed, the “mule” file will open normally without exposing the embedded secret file. On systems with the module installed and properly authorized, the user will see the encrypted file open without seeing the “mule” file. This allows the secure transport of a file within a plaintext “mule” file.

主权项

1. A method of embedding secure information into a document or other data structure comprising:
creating a mule file complying with a standard format which includes optional comment fields; inserting at least one cryptographic string into a comment field within the mule file, the cryptographic string comprising sensitive information to be communicated; communicating and processing the mule file with embedded cryptographic string using a process that ignores the comment fields; and recovering the cryptographic string and associated sensitive information from the communicated mule file comment field.