System, method and computer program product for detecting a rogue member in a multicast group

A member of a multicast group including a plurality of members, wherein the member comprises:

• a processor capable of operating a client, wherein the client is capable of notifying a network entity of a member of the group operating as a rogue member claiming an identity of another member of the group, that other member being a spoofed member, wherein the client is capable of notifying the network entity such that the network entity distributes, to at least the members of the group other than the spoofed member, different versions of a symmetric key associated with the spoofed member, and
• wherein the client is capable of receiving a next data packet and a code for the next data packet, the code having been generated at the rogue member using a version of the symmetric key associated with the spoofed member such that the rogue member is capable of being identified based upon the version of the symmetric key.

A method of identifying a rogue member within a multicast group including a plurality of members, wherein, for at least one member of the group, the method comprises:

• notifying a network entity of a member of the group operating as a rogue member claiming an identity of another member of the group, that other member being a spoofed member, wherein notifying a network entity comprises notifying a network entity such that the network entity distributes, to at least the members of the group other than the spoofed member, different versions of a symmetric key associated with the spoofed member;
• and
• receiving a next data packet and a code for the next data packet, the code having been generated at the rogue member using a version of the symmetric key associated with the spoofed member such that the rogue member is capable of being identified based upon the version of the symmetric key.

A computer program product for identifying a rogue member within a multicast group including a plurality of members, wherein the computer program product is adapted to be embodied within at least one member of the group, and wherein the computer program product comprises at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

• a first executable portion for notifying a network entity of a member of the group operating as a rogue member claiming an identity of another member of the group, that member being a spoofed member, wherein the first executable portion is adapted to notify the network entity such that the network entity distributes, to at least the members of the group other than the spoofed member, different versions of a symmetric key associated with the spoofed member;
• and
• a second executable portion for receiving a next data packet and a code for the next data packet, the code having been generated at the rogue member using a version of the symmetric key associated with the spoofed member such that the rogue member is capable of being identified based upon the version of the symmetric key.