Exploration and comparison of Win32 API to improve data usage control

Computers have become an inherent part of our daily lives today. The Windows operating system achieved high popularity over the past years. Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will smooth the day-to-day works which have become the most acquainted Office application suite in organizations. Windows API enables developers to investigate the functionalities and capabilities unique to each version of the Windows operating system. Accidental data leakage is a major data breach, and this has become a critical issue during the last few years. Even though the Windows operating system provides different access levels, and organizations train employees to prevent data leakages, still there is a need for application-level additional security layer to prevent accidental data leakages happening by employees. The thesis investigates the use of Win32 API functions to address the specific use-cases. The use-cases defined in the thesis are related to the accidental data leakages. Furthermore, this thesis describes the steps taken for the implementation of the prototype solutions, and finally, the solutions are evaluated regarding security and performance with suggestions for future improvements