Virtual private server with enhanced security

An end user computer comprising:

• a processor running an operating system;
• and
• a plurality of applications available to a user of the end user computer and running on the processor,
• wherein the applications are launched within corresponding isolated virtual private servers (VPSs) and communicate with each other using secure communications means, each VPS functioning as a stand-alone computer, and
• wherein at least one VPS is dedicated for administrative operations over the other VPSs.

A method of operating an end user computer comprising:

• instantiating a plurality of isolated virtual private servers (VPSs) supported within an operating system running on the computer, each VPS functioning as a stand-alone computer, and all the VPSs sharing the same operating system;
• and
• launching a plurality of applications available to a user of the computer,
• wherein at least two of the applications are launched within different VPSs,
• wherein the applications launched within different VPSs communicate with each other using secure communications means, and
• wherein at least one VPS is dedicated for administrative operations over the other VPSs.

A system for operating an end user computer comprising:

• means for instantiating a plurality of isolated virtual private servers (VPSs) supported within an operating system running on the computer;
• and
• means for launching a plurality of applications available to a user of the computer,
• wherein at least two of the applications are launched within different VPSs,
• wherein the applications launched within different VPSs communicate with each other using secure communications means, and
• wherein at least one VPS is dedicated for administrative operations over the other VPSs.

A computer useable storage medium having computer program logic stored thereon for executing on a processor, the computer program logic comprising:

• computer program code means for instantiating a plurality of virtual private servers (VPSs) supported within an operating system running on the computer;
• and
• computer program code means for launching a plurality of applications available to a user of the computer,
• wherein at least two of the applications are launched within different VPSs,
• wherein the applications launched within different VPSs communicate with each other using secure communications means, and
• wherein at least one VPS is dedicated for administrative operations over the other VPSs.

A system for providing application hosting services comprising:

• a computer running an operating system and a session of Windows Terminal Services as an isolated execution environment;
• a user application running in the isolated execution environment and running as a process within that isolated execution environment to deliver, using Citrix screen delivery software, application hosting services to a remote user of that user application,
• wherein the user application is launched inside the session of Windows Terminal Services by activating an icon on a remote client computer, and
• wherein a graphical representation of data of the user application is maintained in a window on a desktop of the remote user by the Citrix screen delivery software.

A system for providing application hosting services comprising:

• a computer running an operating system and a session of Windows Server as an isolated execution environment;
• and
• a user application running in the isolated execution environment and running as a process within that isolated execution environment to deliver, using Citrix screen delivery software, application hosting services to a remote user of that user application,
• wherein the user application is launched inside the session of Windows Server by activating an icon on a remote client computer, and
• wherein a graphical representation of data of the user application is maintained in a window on a desktop of the remote user by the Citrix screen delivery software.