Spyware scanning and cleaning methods and system
First Claim
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1. A method of scanning for spyware on a computer, the method comprising:
- setting a first scan rate for scanning for spyware;
surveying processes executing on the computer at said first rate, thereby creating a first CPU usage value and a first disk usage value;
repeating said surveying of processes, thereby creating a second CPU value and a second disk usage value, incrementing a counter each time said surveying is performed;
calculating a difference between the first CPU and disk usage values and the second CPU and disk usage values;
continuing said scanning of processes at the first scan rate if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold; and
if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded for a specific time period, increasing the first scan to a second scan rate.
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Abstract
In a digital computing environment, an improvement to a method of scanning for and removing spyware, includes periodically detecting a current usage level of CPU and disk resources to generate a current usage level signal. In response to the current usage level signal, a rate of scanning for and removing spyware is modulated, based on CPU and disk resource usage from a first time period to a second time period. The scanning for and removing spyware does not substantially interfere with a user'"'"'s employment of the digital computing environment.
15 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of scanning for spyware on a computer, the method comprising:
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setting a first scan rate for scanning for spyware; surveying processes executing on the computer at said first rate, thereby creating a first CPU usage value and a first disk usage value; repeating said surveying of processes, thereby creating a second CPU value and a second disk usage value, incrementing a counter each time said surveying is performed; calculating a difference between the first CPU and disk usage values and the second CPU and disk usage values; continuing said scanning of processes at the first scan rate if said difference is greater than a predetermined threshold; and if the predetermined threshold is not exceeded for a specific time period, increasing the first scan to a second scan rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of scanning for spyware on a computing device, the method comprising:
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performing a first survey at a first scan rate of an executing process to determine a first CPU usage time used by the executing process; performing a second survey at the first scan rate of the executing process to determine a second CPU usage time; calculating a difference between the first CPU usage time and the second CPU usage time; comparing the difference with a threshold difference value; and adjusting the first scan rate to a second scan rate if the difference does not exceed the threshold difference value for a specific amount of time; and if the difference exceeds the threshold difference value, adjusting the second scan rate to the first scan rate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification