Strategies for ensuring that executable content conforms to predetermined patterns of behavior (“inverse virus checking”)

US8037534B2 · kind B2 · utility

Inventors

• Joseph Smith · Berea, US
• John T. Spivey · Redmond, US
• Cesare John Saretto · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 2005
• Grant date: Oct 11, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F21/51
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Security provisions are described which determine whether or not executable content is likely to perform undesirable actions. The security provisions assess that an executable content item poses an acceptable risk when it conforms to an allow list of predetermined patterns of permissible behavior. The security provisions find exemplary use in the context of an instant messaging environment, where participants can consume and propagate executable content in the course of conducting a communication session. Supplemental rules are described which prevent malicious code from subverting the allow list design paradigm.