Detection and prevention of installation of malicious mobile applications
US9152784B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2221/033
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A combination of shim and back-end server applications may be used to identify and block the installation of malicious applications on mobile devices. In practice, a shim application registers with a mobile device's operating system to intercept application installation operations. Upon intercepting an attempted installation operation, the shim application identifies the application seeking to be installed, generates a key uniquely identifying the application, and transmits the key over a network connection to a back-end server. The back-end server may be configured to crawl the Internet to identify malicious applications and compile and maintain a database of such applications. Upon receiving a key from the shim application, the back-end server can search its database to locate a matching application and, if found, respond to the mobile device with the application's status (e.g., malicious or not). The shim application can utilize this information to allow or block installation of the application.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.