Malware scanning to create clean storage locations
AssigneeMcAfee, Inc.
InventorsLee Codel Lawson Tarbotton, James Malcolm Vignoles, Christopher Andrew Barton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pre-emptive malware scanning of user specified operating system 10, 12 defined storage locations is performed to establish whether those storage locations contain any malware containing computer files. If the storage locations are malware-free, then they are classified as clean storage locations and subsequent read accesses to those storage locations will be permitted without requiring further malware scanning. Writes to clean storage locations will continue to be malware scanned.
Claims24
A computer program product for controlling a computer to scan computer files for malware, said computer program product comprising:
- malware scanning code operable to malware scan all computer files stored within a storage location as addressed by an operating system to identify any computer files stored within said storage location that contain malware;
- identification code operable if no computer files containing malware are found in said storage location, to identify said storage location as a clean storage location;
- and
- when subsequently reading a computer file, determination code operable to determine whether or not said computer file is stored within a clean storage location and:
- if said computer file is stored within a clean storage location, then permitting reading of said computer file without further malware scanning;
- and
- if said computer file is not stored within a clean storage location, then malware scanning said computer file.
A method of scanning computer files for malware, said method comprising the steps of:
- malware scanning all computer files stored within a storage location as addressed by an operating system to identify any computer files stored within said storage location that contain malware;
- if no computer files containing malware are found in said storage location, then identifying said storage location as a clean storage location;
- and
- when subsequently reading a computer file, determining whether or not said computer file is stored within a clean storage location, whereupon:
- if said computer file is stored within a clean storage location, then permitting reading of said computer file without further malware scanning;
- and
- if said computer file is not stored within a clean storage location, then malware scanning said computer file.
Apparatus for scanning computer files for malware, said apparatus comprising:
- malware scanning logic operable to malware scan all computer files stored within a storage location as addressed by an operating system to identify any computer files stored within said storage location that contain malware;
- identification logic operable if no computer files containing malware are found in said storage location, to identify said storage location as a clean storage location;
- and
- when subsequently reading a computer file, determination logic operable to determine whether or not said computer file is stored within a clean storage location and:
- if said computer file is stored within a clean storage location, then permitting reading of said computer file without further malware scanning;
- and
- if said computer file is not stored within a clean storage location, then malware scanning said computer file.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.