Detection of hardware-based virtual machine environment
US8205241B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/455
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and a processing device are provided for detecting a hardware-based virtual machine environment. An execution time of a privileged instruction may be measured and an execution time of a nonprivileged instruction may be measured. The execution time of the privileged instruction may be compared with the execution time of the nonprivileged instruction. When the execution time of the privileged instruction exceeds the execution time of the nonprivileged instruction by at least a threshold or a threshold factor, then a hardware-based virtual machine environment is detected. In some embodiments, a well-known technique for detecting a software-based virtual machine environment may be used in conjunction with a technique for detecting a hardware-based virtual machine environment. A licensing policy of a software product may be accessed and the software product may be prevented from executing when a detected machine environment is in violation of the licensing policy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.