Protection agents and privilege modes
US8380987B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2007 |
| Grant date | Feb 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/554
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This document describes tools capable of making a portion of operating-system memory associated with a protection agent unalterable or inaccessible from an operating-system privilege mode. In some embodiments, these tools are capable of creating a protection-agent privilege mode by requesting that a virtual machine monitor protect this portion of operating-system memory. In other embodiments, these tools are capable of creating the protection-agent privilege mode by virtualizing a physical processor into multiple virtual processors, at least one of which is a protection-agent virtual processor designed to run the protection agent. By making this portion of operating-system memory unalterable or inaccessible from the operating-system privilege mode, the protection agent may be less vulnerable to attacks by entities operating within the operating-system privilege mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.