Patent · US Active

Preventing propagation of malicious software during execution in a virtual machine

US8402529B1 · kind B1 · utility

317Cited by
40References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 2008
Grant dateMar 19, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 6, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L63/0227
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for preventing propagation of malicious content associated with an electronic message are disclosed. An electronic message and content associated with the electronic message is simulated in a virtual machine which emulates the destination computing device of the electronic message. A virtual firewall receives one or more commands as the electronic message or content associated with an electronic message is executed. Initially, the virtual firewall establishes a network connection and determines the type of action associated with the commands. If the type of action comprises a connection maintenance or configuration command, the network connection is maintained. If the type of action comprises a data transmission command, the network connection is terminated. This allows the virtual machine to simulate performance of a networked computer by transmitting a subset of the data through a network connection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.