SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING TRUSTWORTHINESS CLASSIFICATIONS FOR FILES AS VISUALLY OVERLAID ICONS

• US 20120246598A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Narayanan, Aravinthan
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/846
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for displaying trustworthiness classifications for files as visually overlaid icons may include (1) identifying a file, (2) identifying a file icon that graphically represents the file within a file manager interface on a computing device, (3) obtaining a trustworthiness classification assigned to the file that identifies the trustworthiness of the file, and then (4) visually overlaying the file icon with a trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file. Various other systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying trustworthiness classifications for files as visually overlaid icons, at least a portion of the method being performed by at least one computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

identifying a file;

identifying a file icon that graphically represents the file within a file manager interface on the computing device;

obtaining a trustworthiness classification assigned to the file that identifies the trustworthiness of the file;

visually overlaying the file icon with a trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file, wherein the trustworthiness icon enables a user of the computing device to visually identify the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file indicates that at least one of:

the file'"'"'s trustworthiness is unknown;

the file is untrustworthy;

the file is trustworthy.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an additional file;

identifying an additional file icon that graphically represents the additional file within the same file manager interface as the file icon;

obtaining an additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file that identifies the trustworthiness of the additional file;

visually overlaying the additional file icon with an additional trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file, wherein the additional trustworthiness icon is juxtaposed with the trustworthiness icon to enable the user to visually compare the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness with the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the file and the additional file comprise executable files that perform substantially similar functions when executed by the computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file comprises information that identifies a reputation of the file within a community.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file comprises receiving the trustworthiness classification from a reputation service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein visually overlaying the file icon with the trustworthiness icon comprises providing a shell extension for the file manager interface that causes the file manager interface to visually overlay the file icon with the trustworthiness icon.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file is represented by a numeric score that identifies the file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

9. A system for displaying trustworthiness classifications for files as visually overlaid icons, the system comprising:

an identification module programmed to;

identify a file;

identify a file icon that graphically represents the file within a file manager interface on the computing device;

a classification module programmed to obtain a trustworthiness classification assigned to the file that identifies the trustworthiness of the file;

an overlay module programmed to visually overlay the file icon with a trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file, wherein the trustworthiness icon enables a user of the computing device to visually identify the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the file'"'"'s trustworthiness;

at least one processor configured to execute the identification module, the classification module, and the overlay module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file indicates that at least one of:

the file'"'"'s trustworthiness is unknown;

the file is untrustworthy;

the file is trustworthy.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the identification module is further programmed to;

identify an additional file;

identify an additional file icon that graphically represents the additional file within the same file manager interface as the file icon;

the classification module is further programmed to obtain an additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file that identifies the trustworthiness of the additional file;

the overlay module is further programmed to visually overlay the additional file icon with an additional trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file, wherein the additional trustworthiness icon is juxtaposed with the trustworthiness icon to enable the user to visually compare the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness with the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the file and the additional file comprise executable files that perform substantially similar functions when executed by the computing device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file comprises information that identifies a reputation of the file within a community.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the classification module is further programmed to receive the trustworthiness classification from a reputation service.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the overlay module is further programmed to provide a shell extension for the file manager interface that causes the file manager interface to visually overlay the file icon with the trustworthiness icon.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file is represented by a numeric score that identifies the file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

identify a file;

identify a file icon that graphically represents the file within a file manager interface on the computing device;

obtain a trustworthiness classification assigned to the file that identifies the trustworthiness of the file;

visually overlay the file icon with a trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file, wherein the trustworthiness icon enables a user of the computing device to visually identify the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 17, wherein the trustworthiness classification assigned to the file indicates that at least one of:

the file'"'"'s trustworthiness is unknown;

the file is untrustworthy;

the file is trustworthy.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more computer-executable instructions, when executed by the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

identify an additional file;

identify an additional file icon that graphically represents the additional file within the same file manager interface as the file icon;

obtain an additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file that identifies the trustworthiness of the additional file;

visually overlay the additional file icon with an additional trustworthiness icon that graphically represents the additional trustworthiness classification assigned to the additional file, wherein the additional trustworthiness icon is juxtaposed with the trustworthiness icon to enable the user to visually compare the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness with the file'"'"'s trustworthiness without having to request a separate evaluation of the additional file'"'"'s trustworthiness.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 19, wherein the file and the additional file comprise executable files that perform substantially similar functions when executed by the computing device.