Push alert system, method, and computer program product

• US 7,555,776 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Kingsbury, Brad, Lymer, Brent J., Katchapalayam, Babu
• Primary Examiner(s): Revak; Christopher A
• Application Number:
  US11/855,953
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• 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: G06F 21/577 Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/033 Test or assess software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1433 Vulnerability analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for alerting users of a plurality of computers of a security event via a network. A security alert is first generated including information relating to a security event utilizing a server. The security alert is then pushed from the server to a plurality of computers via a network. The information of the security alert is then automatically displayed in a front most window of a user interface of the computers.

Claims

1. A method for alerting users of a plurality of computers of a security event via a network, comprising:

generating a security alert including information relating to a security event utilizing a server; and

pushing the security alert from the server to a plurality of computers via a network;

wherein the information of the security alert is automatically displayed in a front most window of a user interface of the plurality of computers;

wherein the front most window is automatically displayed over a background window running after the pushing of the security alert from the server to the plurality of computers.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes a level of the security alert.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the level of the security alert reflects a level of risk associated with the security event.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one proposed user action relating to the security event.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one proposed user action is selected from a group consisting of obtaining more information relating to the security event and obtaining protection from the security event.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes a response by a security application carried out in reaction to the security event.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the response is selected from a group consisting of scanning a computer, scanning a file, cleaning a file, and blocking access to a computer.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes a description of the security event.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the security alert is tailored based on a user-profile.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein a first set of the information of the security alert is pushed to the plurality of computers.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a subset of the first set of the information of the security alert is displayed based on the user-profile.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the user-profile includes data relating to a security application installed on one of the plurality of computers associated with a user.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the data relates to a status of the security application on the computer associated with the user.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the status indicates whether the security application is installed.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the status indicates whether the security application is enabled.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the status indicates whether a subscription associated with the security application is expired.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the security alert is displayed utilizing a single graphical user interface.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the single graphical user interface allows access to a security application.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the single graphical user interface displays a status.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the front most window remains displayed in a foreground of the user interface until an option associated with the security alert is selected.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the front most window remains displayed in a foreground of the user interface when the background window is changed.

22. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the background window is useable while the front most window remains displayed in a foreground of the user interface.

23. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pushing includes broadcasting the security alert.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the security alert is color-coded to reflect a level of severity associated with the security alert.

25. A computer program product for alerting users of a plurality of computers of a security event via a network, comprising:

computer code for generating a security alert including information relating to a security event utilizing a server; and

computer code for pushing the security alert from the server to a plurality of computers via a network;

wherein the information of the security alert is automatically displayed in a front most window of a user interface of the plurality of computers;

wherein the front most window is automatically displayed over a background window running after the pushing of the security alert from the server to the plurality of computers.

26. A system for alerting users of a plurality of computers of a security event via a network, comprising:

means for generating a security alert including information relating to a security event; and

means for pushing the security alert from the server to a plurality of computers;

wherein the information of the security alert is automatically displayed in a front most window of a user interface of the plurality of computers;

wherein the front most window is automatically displayed over a background window running after the pushing of the security alert from the server to the plurality of computers.