Discerning use of signatures by third party vendors
US8015284B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/51
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Bait files and signatures allow security software vendors to track both authorized and unauthorized usage of the security vendor's signatures/products by third party security vendors. A bait file providing module anonymously provides a bait file to a third party security vendor for security detection, where the bait file is a non-malware file. A signature providing module provides a bait signature corresponding to the bait file that is included in a signature database which is made publicly available. A scanner monitoring module monitors security detections made over a period of time by a security scanner operated by the third party vendor. A determination module determines whether the scanner positively detected the bait file following the release of the bait signature for the bait file. A use detection module detects, in response to a positive determination, that the third party vendor used the bait signature provided to detect the bait file.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.