Anti-virus agent for use with databases and mail servers
First Claim
1. For use in a computer network having a client-server architecture and a message system, a server-based method for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages comprising the steps of:
- providing a scan time period;
at the server, searching the message system to obtain a list of attachments to e-mail messages received at the message system within the previous scan time period;
at the server, passing each attachment in the list of attachments to an anti-virus detection module for computer virus scanning;
at the anti-virus detection module, detecting and removing computer viruses in each attachment in the list of attachments; and
at the server, re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A software agent for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages. A client-server computer network includes a server computer and a plurality of client computers. A message system, located at the server computer, controls the distribution of e-mail messages. An anti-virus module, located at the server computer, scans files for viruses. The agent is located at the server computer and provides an interface between the anti-virus module and the message system. The agent can operate both on a real-time basis and at preset period intervals. E-mail messages that are sent internally within the network can be scanned, e.g., Intranet e-mail messages. In addition, e-mail messages received over the Internet can be scanned.
562 Citations
35 Claims
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1. For use in a computer network having a client-server architecture and a message system, a server-based method for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages comprising the steps of:
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providing a scan time period; at the server, searching the message system to obtain a list of attachments to e-mail messages received at the message system within the previous scan time period; at the server, passing each attachment in the list of attachments to an anti-virus detection module for computer virus scanning; at the anti-virus detection module, detecting and removing computer viruses in each attachment in the list of attachments; and at the server, re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. For use in a client-server computer network having a mail server, a method for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages comprising the steps of:
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A. setting a scan time period; B. at the server, searching the mail server to obtain a list of attachments to e-mail messages input to the mail server within the previous scan time period; C. at the server, detecting and removing computer viruses in each attachment in the list of attachments; and D. at the server, re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages in the mail server. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. For use in a client-server computer network having a mail server, a method for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages comprising the steps of:
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A. obtaining a scan time period; B. searching the mail server to create a list of attachments to e-mail messages that were input to the mail server within the previous scan time period; C. passing each attachment in the list of attachments to an anti-virus detection module for computer virus scanning and removal; D. re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages in the mail server after scanning and removal of computer viruses at the anti-virus detection module; and E. repeating steps B. through D. each scan time period.
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10. For use in a client-server computer network having a plurality of workstations and a server, the server including a message system, a server-based method for detecting and removing computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an e-mail message at the message system; upon receipt of the e-mail message, determining whether the e-mail message includes an attachment; if the e-mail message includes an attachment, passing the attachment to an anti-virus detection module for computer virus scanning; at the anti-virus detection module, detecting and removing computer viruses in the attachment; and re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In a first computer network having a plurality of nodes, the first computer network configured to operate an e-mail system for sending and receiving among the plurality of nodes a plurality of e-mail messages, a sub-set of the plurality of e-mail messages having at least one attachment associated therewith, a method for detecting and removing computer viruses from the attachments to the plurality of e-mail messages, the method comprising the steps of:
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detaching the at least one attachment from each of the sub-set of the plurality of e-mail messages; sending the at least one attachment to an anti-virus application; scanning the at least one attachment for the at least one computer virus in accordance with the anti-virus application; removing the at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment; and reattaching the at least one attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a first computer network having a plurality of nodes, the first computer network configured to operate an e-mail system for sending and receiving a plurality of e-mail messages among the plurality of nodes, a subset of the plurality of e-mail messages having at least one attachment associated therewith, a method for detecting and removing at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment, the method comprising the steps of:
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detaching the at least one attachment from each of the plurality of e-mail messages; determining whether the at least one attachment is infected with the at least one computer virus; removing the at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment; and reattaching the at least one attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of e-mail messages.
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20. A system for detecting computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages in a client-server computer network including a server computer and a plurality of client computers and a message system located at the server computer for controlling the distribution of e-mail messages, comprising:
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an anti-virus module located at the server computer for scanning files for viruses; and an agent located at the server computer, the agent providing an interface between the anti-virus module and the message system, and including means for receiving a scan time period, means for searching the message system to obtain a list of attachments to e-mail messages received at the message system within the previous scan time period, means for passing each attachment in the list of attachments to the anti-virus module for computer virus scanning, and means for re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An anti-virus agent for use in a client-server computer network having a server computer including a mail server with e-mail messages and a plurality of client computers, the anti-virus agent assisting in the detection of computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages, comprising:
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means for setting a scan time period; means, located at the server computer, for searching the mail server to obtain a list of attachments to e-mail messages input to the mail server within the previous scan time period; means for passing each attachment in the list of attachments to an anti-virus detection module for computer virus scanning and removal; and means, located at the server computer, for re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages in the mail server. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. In a first computer network having a plurality of nodes and configured to operate an e-mail system for sending and receiving among the plurality of nodes a plurality of e-mail messages, a sub-set of the plurality of e-mail messages having at least one attachment associated therewith, a system for detecting and removing computer viruses from the attachments to the plurality of e-mail messages, the system comprising:
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means for detaching the at least one attachment from each of the sub-set of the plurality of e-mail messages; means for sending the at least one attachment to an anti-virus application; means for scanning the at least one attachment for the at least one computer virus in accordance with the anti-virus application; means for removing the at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment; and means for reattaching the at least one attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. In a first computer network having a plurality of nodes and configured to operate an e-mail system for sending and receiving a plurality of e-mail messages among the plurality of nodes, a subset of the plurality of e-mail messages having at least one attachment associated therewith, a system for detecting and removing at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment, the system comprising:
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means for detaching the at least one attachment from each of the plurality of e-mail messages; means for determining whether the at least one attachment is infected with the at least one computer virus; means for removing the at least one computer virus from the at least one attachment; and means for reattaching the at least one attachment to a corresponding one of the plurality of e-mail messages.
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30. A real-time system for detecting computer viruses located in attachments to e-mail messages in a client-server computer network including a server computer and a plurality of client computers, a message system being located at the server computer for controlling the distribution of e-mail messages and including a plurality of mailboxes, the real-time system comprising:
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an anti-virus module located at the server computer for scanning files for viruses; and an agent located at the server computer, the agent providing an interface between the anti-virus module and the message system and invoked whenever an e-mail message is forwarded to a mailbox, and including means for determining if an e-mail message includes an attachment, means for detaching the attachment from the e-mail message, means for enabling the anti-virus module to scan the attachment for computer viruses, and means for re-attaching each attachment to the e-mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification