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Project Overview: We have developed "Vanguard," an innovative Outlook add-in that leverages AI to enhance email security. This tool is designed to analyze emails in real-time for potential security threats, providing users with immediate feedback on the safety of their incoming messages.
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Key Features:
- Real-time email analysis for security threats
- Integration with an OpenAI-compatible API's in this case Llama 3 70b trained on a small dataset of sythetic for advanced threat detection
- High level secure interface within Outlook
- Dynamic light/dark mode support for better accessibility
- Detailed explanations of security assessments
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Technologies Used:
- JavaScript for core functionality
- HTML and CSS for the user interface
- Office.js API for Outlook integration for enterprise use cases
- Axios for making API calls
- Webpack for bundling and build processes
- Node.js for the development environment
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Development Achievements:
- Successfully set up an Office Add-in development environment 100% local API with zero internet access
- Implemented a taskpane interface in Outlook
- Integrated with an AI service (OpenAI-compatible endpoint) for email analysis at a complex level
- Developed a responsive UI that adapts to Outlook's theme settings
- Implemented error handling and input sanitization for security
- Created a build process using Webpack for production-ready code
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User Experience:
- Simple one-click analysis of emails
- Clear visual indicators for email safety status
- Detailed explanations of AI-generated security assessments
- Seamless integration with Outlook's existing interface
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Security Considerations:
- Implemented input sanitization to prevent XSS attacks
- Secured API communication with proper authentication and 100% local inference of Llama 3 70B
- Ensured sensitive information (like API keys) is not exposed in the codebase
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Development Process:
- Set up the initial project structure and development environment
- Developed core functionality for email analysis
- Created and styled the user interface
- Integrated with the AI service for threat detection
- Implemented theme switching and responsiveness
- Conducted testing and debugging
- Prepared the project for version control with a comprehensive .gitignore file
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Potential Impact:
- Enhances email security for Outlook users and large enterpise users like banks or hospitals
- Provides an accessible tool for identifying potential phishing or malicious emails
- Educates users about email security through detailed explanations
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Future Possibilities:
- Further refinement of the AI model for more accurate threat detection as there was limited time and not enough syntehtic data generated
- Additional features like bulk email analysis or integration with other security tools
- Massive potential for deployment in enterprise environments for enhanced organizational security
This project demonstrates a practical application of AI in everyday productivity tools, addressing the critical need for improved email security. By creating a user-friendly interface and integrating advanced AI capabilities, Vanguard stands as an innovative solution developed within the constraints of a hackathon, showcasing both technical skill and a keen understanding of user needs in the realm of digital security.