Software virus protection

• US 20020042886A1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Oyj
• Original Assignee: F-Secure Oyj
• Inventors: Lahti, Pasi, Bergroth, Ismo, Huopio, Simo
• Application Number:
  US09/939,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/564 by virus signature recognition

Abstract

A method of protecting a wireless device against viruses, comprising maintaining a database of virus signatures on the device, updating the database by downloading virus signatures in a Short Message Service (SMS) Message, and searching for virus signatures in the memory of or files stored on the wireless device by comparison with the database.

Claims

1. A method of updating a virus signature database used by anti-virus software operating on a mobile wireless platform, comprising sending update data via a signalling channel of a mobile telecommunications network to the mobile wireless platform.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the update data sent to the mobile wireless platform is a virus signature database update.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the network is GSM or enhanced GSM network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the update data is carried by one or more Short Message Service (SMS) messages.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the update data is carried by one or more Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) message.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the message carrying the update data is cryptographically signed.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mobile platform comprises a mobile telephone, communicator, PDA, palmtop or laptop computer.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, and comprising sending the update data in response to a request from the mobile platform.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said request identifies the current status of a virus signature database.

10. A method of protecting a wireless device against viruses, comprising:

maintaining a database of virus signatures on the device;

updating the database by receiving data containing virus signatures in one or more Short Message Service (SMS) or Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) messages; and

searching for virus signatures contained in the database.