PREVENTING MALWARE ATTACKS IN VIRTUALIZED MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100328064A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VMware, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROGEL, Lawrence S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/128 Anti-malware arrangements, e.g. protection against SMS fraud or mobile malware

Abstract

One embodiment is a method of preventing malware attacks in a virtualized mobile device including virtualization software that supports one or more virtual machines, the method including: (a) collecting information related to the status of physical device drivers; and (b) sending the information to virus protection software; wherein the virus protection software includes a set of rules that trigger one or more actions based on the information it receives concerning the physical device drivers.

Claims

1. A method of preventing malware attacks in a virtualized mobile device comprised of virtualization software that supports one or more virtual machines, the method comprising:

collecting information related to the status of physical device drivers;

sending the information to virus protection software;

wherein the virus protection software includes a set of rules that trigger one or more actions based on the information it receives concerning the physical device drivers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the actions includes raising an alarm.

4. The method of claim 1 which further includes receiving one or more sets of rules from a server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving is on a periodic basis.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein raising an alarm comprises providing one or more of sending a voice message, sending a text message, or activating a screen display.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein raising an alarm comprises halting or locking one or more predetermined applications.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein raising an alarm comprises disabling communications to one or more of the virtual machines.

2. The method of claim 2 wherein the virus protection software is in the virtualization software layer or in a predetermined virtual machine.