PREVENTING PROPAGATION OF MALICIOUS CONTENT IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE

• US 20110054918A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Pickover, Clifford A., Walker, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,785,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

An invention for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, a malicious content propagation prevention tool provides this capability. The malicious content propagation prevention tool includes a scanning component configured to scan a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe. An identification component is configured to identify a set of malicious inventory from the plurality of inventory items. The malicious content propagation prevention tool further comprises an assurance component configured to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following: isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

Claims

1. A method for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, comprising:

scanning a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe;

identifying a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items; and

preventing propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following;

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

3. The method according to claim 2, the notification comprising at least one of the following:

a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, a text message, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising charging a fee for performing at least one of the following:

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying the malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified

5. The method according to claim 1, the isolating comprising sending the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following:

used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

6. The method according to claim 1, the modifying comprising at least one of the following:

erasing a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior, and replacing the set of malicious inventory items.

7. A computer system for preventing propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, comprising:

at least one processing unit;

memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; and

a malicious content propagation prevention tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the malicious content propagation prevention tool comprising;

a scanning component configured to scan a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe;

an identification component configured to identify a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items; and

an assurance component configured to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following;

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

8. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 7 further comprising a notification component configured to provide a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

9. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 8, the notification comprising at least one of the following:

a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, a text message, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

10. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 8 further comprising a transaction component configured to charge a fee for performing at least one of the following:

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying the malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

11. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 7, the assurance component configured to send the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following:

used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

12. The malicious content propagation prevention tool according to claim 7, the assurance component configured to perform at least one of the following:

erase a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior, and replace the set of malicious inventory items.

13. A computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to prevent propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, the computer instructions comprising:

scanning a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe;

identifying a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items; and

preventing propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following;

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, the computer instructions further comprising providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 14, the notification comprising at least one of the following:

a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, a text message, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 14 further comprising computer instructions for charging a fee for performing at least one of the following:

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying the malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, the computer instructions for preventing propagation of malicious content comprising sending the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following:

used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, the computer instructions for preventing comprising performing at least one of the following:

erasing a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior, and replacing the set of malicious inventory items.

19. A method for deploying a malicious content propagation prevention tool for use in a computer system that prevents propagation of malicious content within a virtual universe, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure operable to;

scan a plurality of inventory items within a virtual universe;

identify a set of malicious inventory items from the plurality of inventory items; and

prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following;

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, and modifying a malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items.

20. The method according to claim 19, the computer infrastructure further operable to provide a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

21. The method according to claim 20, the notification comprising at least one of the following:

a message provided in the virtual universe, a visual change in the color of the set of malicious inventory items, a certification sent by postal mail, a telephone call, a text message, and a visual warning displayed on the set of malicious inventory items.

22. The method according to claim 20, the computer infrastructure further operable to charge a fee for performing at least one of the following:

isolating the set of malicious inventory items, modifying the malicious behavior caused by the set of malicious inventory items, and providing a notification in the case that a set of malicious inventory items is identified.

23. The method according to claim 19, the computer infrastructure operable to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by sending the set of malicious inventory items to a quarantined section to prevent the set of malicious inventory items from being at least one of the following:

used, traded, and removed from the inventory.

24. The method according to claim 19, the computer infrastructure operable to prevent propagation of malicious content within the virtual universe by performing at least one of the following:

erasing a portion of virtual language programming code that is causing the malicious behavior, and replacing the set of malicious inventory items.