Wireless malware scanning back-end system and method

• US 20030229801A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Networks Associates Technology, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Palmer, David W., Libenzi, Davide, Fallenstedt, Martin, Kouznetsov, Victor, Pak, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/562 Static detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/564 by virus signature recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/128 Anti-malware arrangements, e.g. protection against SMS fraud or mobile malware
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning a plurality of mobile wireless devices for malware. A request is received to update an anti-malware scanner installed on a mobile wireless device over a wireless network. Further, an update tailored for the mobile wireless device is prepared using a back-end infrastructure. Such tailored update is then transmitted from the back-end infrastructure to the mobile wireless device over the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for scanning a plurality of mobile wireless devices for malware, comprising:

receiving a request to update an anti-malware scanner installed on a mobile wireless device over a wireless network;

preparing an update tailored for the mobile wireless device using a back-end infrastructure; and

transmitting the tailored update from the back-end infrastructure to the mobile wireless device over the wireless network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request includes data specific to the mobile wireless device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the update is tailored for the mobile wireless device based on the data.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data includes a media access control (MAC) address.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein a plurality of updates are pre-fabricated for a plurality of types of the mobile wireless devices.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the back-end infrastructure selects the updates based on the data.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the updates include different malware signatures pertinent to the associated mobile wireless device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the back-end infrastructure includes components selected from the group consisting of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, a database transaction server, a client information storage database, and a web-based provisioning and reporting system.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the back-end infrastructure includes a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, a database transaction server, a client information storage database, and a web-based provisioning and reporting system.

10. A computer program product for scanning a plurality of mobile wireless devices for malware, comprising:

computer code for receiving a request to update an anti-malware scanner installed on a mobile wireless device over a wireless network;

computer code for preparing an update tailored for the mobile wireless device using a back-end infrastructure; and

computer code for transmitting the tailored update from the back-end infrastructure to the mobile wireless device over the wireless network.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein the request includes data specific to the mobile wireless device.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the update is tailored for the mobile wireless device based on the data.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein the data includes a media access control (MAC) address.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein a plurality of updates is pre-fabricated for a plurality of types of the mobile wireless devices.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the back-end infrastructure selects the updates based on the data.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the updates include different malware signatures pertinent to the associated mobile wireless device.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein the back-end infrastructure includes components selected from the group consisting of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, a database transaction server, a client information storage database, and a web-based provisioning and reporting system.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein the back-end infrastructure includes a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server, a database transaction server, a client information storage database, and a web-based provisioning and reporting system.

19. A system for scanning a plurality of mobile wireless devices for malware, comprising:

logic for receiving a request to update an anti-malware scanner installed on a mobile wireless device over a wireless network;

logic for preparing an update tailored for the mobile wireless device using a back-end infrastructure; and

logic for transmitting the tailored update from the back-end infrastructure to the mobile wireless device over the wireless network.

20. A system for scanning a plurality of mobile wireless devices for malware, comprising:

means for receiving a request to update an anti-malware scanner installed on a mobile wireless device over a wireless network;

means for preparing an update tailored for the mobile wireless device using a back-end infrastructure; and

means for transmitting the tailored update from the back-end infrastructure to the mobile wireless device over the wireless network.