Computer virus detection

• US 6,886,099 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Networks Associates Technology, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Smithson, Robert Hugh, Rothwell, Anton Christian, Bolin, Christopher Scott, Woodruff, Andrew Arlin, Green, Jeffrey Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US09/660,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/205, 709/206, 709/223, 709/224, 713/200, 713/201, 706/15, 706/16
• US Class Current: 726/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/56 Computer malware detection or handling, e.g. anti-virus arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/566 Dynamic detection, i.e. detection performed at run-time, e.g. emulation, suspicious activities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms

Abstract

A computer virus outbreak is detected by comparing one or more measurement parameters determined over a measurement period against a threshold level. The measurement parameters can include a measurement of how many E-mail messages are sent having an identical file attachment, file type or simply in total. The threshold levels may be varied with the time of day and day of week as well as the tests applied.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for detecting an outbreak of a computer virus on a computer system, said computer program product comprising:

(i) measurement computer code operable to measure one or more measurement parameters indicative of non virus specific activity of said computer system over a respective measurement period;

(ii) comparison computer code operable to compare said one or more measurement parameters with respective predetermined threshold levels, wherein one of said measurement parameters is e-mail throughput within said computer system, wherein each e-mail processed has an associated size value and e-mail throughput is measured in a form dependent upon a number of e-mails and a total of size values for said e-mails within a predetermined period; and

(iii) signal generating computer code operable to generate a signal indicative of an outbreak of a computer virus if one or more of said one or more measurement parameters crosses a respective predetermined threshold level;

wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having an identical message title.

2. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having an identical file attachment.

3. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having a file attachment of a given file type.

4. A computer program product as claimed in claim 3, wherein said given file type is an executable file type.

5. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon time of day.

6. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon day of week.

7. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more measurement parameters are user selectable.

8. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said respective measurements periods are user selectable.

9. A computer program product as claimed in claim 1, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are user selectable.

10. A method of detecting an outbreak of a computer virus on a computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) measuring one or more measurement parameters indicative of non virus specific activity of said computer system over a respective measurement period;

(ii) comparing said one or more measurement parameters with respective predetermined threshold levels, wherein one of said measurement parameters is e-mail throughput within said computer system, wherein each e-mail processed has an associated size value and e-mail throughput is measured in a form dependent upon a number of e-mails and a total of size values for said e-mails within a predetermined period; and

(iii) generating a signal indicative of an outbreak of a computer virus if one or more of said one or more measurement parameters crosses a respective predetermined threshold level;

wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having an identical message title.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having an identical file attachment.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having a file attachment of a given file type.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said given file type is an executable file type.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon day of week.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said one or more measurement parameters are user selectable.

17. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said respective measurements periods are user selectable.

18. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are user selectable.

14. A method as claimed in claim a 10, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon time of day.

19. Apparatus for detecting an outbreak of a computer virus on a computer apparatus, said system comprising:

(i) measuring logic operable to measure one or more measurement parameters indicative of non virus specific activity of said computer system over a respective measurement period;

(ii) comparing logic operable to compare said one or more measurement parameters with respective predetermined threshold levels, wherein one of said measurement parameters is e-mail throughput within said computer system, wherein each e-mail processed has an associated size value and e-mail throughput is measured in a form dependent upon a number of e-mails and a total of size values for said e-mails within a predetermined period; and

(iii) signal generating logic operable to generate a signal indicative of an outbreak of a computer virus if one or more of said one or more measurement parameters crosses a respective predetermined threshold level;

wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having an identical message title.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein one of said measurement parameters is bow many e-mail messages are sent having an identical file attachment.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein one of said measurement parameters is how many e-mail messages are sent having a file attachment of a given file type.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said given file type is an executable file type.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon time of day.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are varied in dependence upon day of week.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said one or more measurement parameters are user selectable.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said respective measurements periods are user selectable.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said respective predetermined threshold levels are user selectable.