Patent · US Active

Selectively scanning objects for infection by malware

US8973135B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 29, 2011
Grant dateMar 3, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F21/568
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are described herein that are capable of selectively scanning objects for infection by malware (i.e., to determine whether one or more of the objects are infected by malware). For instance, metadata that is associated with the objects may be reviewed to determine whether update(s) have been made with regard to the objects since a determination was made that the objects were not infected by malware. An update may involve increasing a number of the objects, modifying one of the objects, etc. Objects that have been updated (e.g., added and/or modified) since the determination may be scanned. Objects that have not been updated since the determination need not necessarily be scanned. For instance, an allowance may be made to perform operations with respect to the objects that have not been updated since the determination without first scanning the objects for infection by malware.

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