System, method, and computer program product for displaying the rating on an electronic mail message in a user-configurable manner

• US 8,407,786 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, Inc. (McAfee, LLC)
• Inventors: Elias, Mohamed Atiq, Edukulla, Santhosh Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Teshome
• Application Number:
  US12/142,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 726/22, 709/206
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for displaying an electronic mail message in a user-configurable manner. In use, an electronic mail message is identified. Additionally, a risk of the electronic mail message is rated based on predefined criteria. Furthermore, the electronic mail message is displayed in a user-configurable manner based on the rating.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code to identify an electronic mail message at a device;

computer code to calculate a numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on predefined criteria established by a recipient;

computer code to assign one of a plurality of risk rankings to the electronic mail message based at least in part on the calculated numerical risk value, each risk ranking of the plurality of risk rankings corresponding to a risk value range;

computer code to display the electronic mail message and a risk indicator in a user-configurable manner according to the assigned risk ranking;

computer code to detect a selection of the risk indicator; and

computer code to display one or more characteristics of the electronic mail message that resulted in the assigned risk ranking in response to the detected selection.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the electronic mail message includes an unrated electronic mail message.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to identify the electronic mail message comprises computer code to identify the electronic mail message in response to receipt of the electronic mail message at the device.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to identify the electronic mail message includes computer code to identify the electronic mail message based on a periodic scan for unrated electronic mail messages.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to calculate the numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on the predefined criteria comprises computer code to evaluate a source of the electronic mail message.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the computer code to evaluate the source of the electronic mail message comprises computer code to determine whether the source of the electronic mail message is trusted.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer code to determine whether the source of the electronic mail message is trusted comprises computer code to determine whether the source is included in a predefined contacts list.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to calculate the numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on the predefined criteria comprises computer code to evaluate a digital signature associated with the electronic mail message.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to calculate the numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on the predefined criteria comprises computer code to evaluate content of the electronic mail message.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer code to evaluate the content comprises computer code to evaluate links included in the electronic mail message.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to calculate the numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on the predefined criteria comprises computer code to evaluate an attachment of the electronic mail message.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer code to evaluate the attachment comprises computer code to evaluate a type of the attachment.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer code to evaluate the type of the attachment comprises computer code to determine whether the attachment includes an executable file.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising computer code to determine a numerical risk value for each predefined criteria.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer code to calculate the numerical risk value of the electronic mail message based on the predefined criteria comprises computer code to aggregate the determined numerical risk value for each of the predefined criteria.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code to display the electronic mail message in the user-configurable manner comprises computer code to display the electronic mail message in a folder corresponding to the assigned risk ranking.

17. A method, comprising:

identifying an electronic mail message at a device of a recipient;

calculating a numerical risk rating of the electronic mail message based on predefined criteria established by the recipient;

assigning one of a plurality of risk rankings to the electronic mail message based, at least in part, on the numerical risk rating, each risk ranking corresponding to a risk rating range;

displaying the electronic mail message and a corresponding risk indicator in a user-configurable manner according to the assigned risk ranking;

detecting a selection of the risk indicator; and

displaying one or more characteristics of the electronic mail message that resulted in the assigned risk ranking in response to the detection of the selection.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a display element;

a memory operatively coupled to the display element; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display element and memory, the processor adapted to execute program code stored in the memory to;

identify an electronic mail message at the computer system,

calculate a numerical risk rating of the electronic mail message based on predefined criteria established by a recipient,

display, on the display element, the electronic mail message and a corresponding risk indicator in a user-configurable manner according to the assigned risk ranking, the risk indicator selectable by the recipient to display one or more characteristics of the electronic mail message that resulted in the assigned risk ranking,

detect a selection of the risk indicator, and

display, on the display element, one or more characteristics of the electronic mail message that resulted in the assigned risk ranking in response to the detection of the selection.