Method for protecting computer programs and data from hostile code
AssigneeTrustware International Limited
InventorEyal Dotan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method that protects computer data from untrusted programs. Each computer's object and process is assigned with trust attributes, which define the way it can interact with other objects within the system. When an object is classified as untrusted, it can interact with other object within the system on a limited basis. A virtualized system is provided on the computer so that when the untrusted object attempts to perform an operation that is outside its scope of authorization, the virtualized system intercepts the operation but present the untrusted program with an indication that the requested operation has been performed. The method further includes processes to securely move a program from an untrusted group to a trusted group.
Claims15
A computerized method of managing a computer's operation in a computer having a real directory and a virtual directory, and having an untrusted program executing in the virtual directory, the method comprising:
- when the untrusted program attempts to delete a named file, performing the operations:
- checking whether a delete operation on the named file has already been executed and, if so, returning a file not found indication;
- otherwise:
- if the named file exists in the real directory only, creating a deleted indicator and returning a success indication;
- if the named file exists in the virtual directory only, erasing the named file;
- and,
- if the named file exists in both the real and virtual directories, creating a deleted indicator, erasing the named file from the virtual directory, and returning a success indication.
A computerized method of managing a computer's operation in a computer having a real directory and a virtual directory, and having an untrusted program executing in the virtual directory, the method, comprising:
- when the untrusted program attempts to rename a named file, performing the operations:
- if the named file exists in the real directory only, copying the named file into the virtual directory, renaming the named file in the virtual directory, and generating a deleted indicator for the named file,
- if the named file exists in the virtual directory only, renaming the named file, and
- if the named file exists in both the real and virtual directories, renaming the named file in the virtual directory, generating a delete indicator for the named file, and returning a success indication.
A computerized method of managing a computer's operation in a computer having a real directory and a virtual directory, and having an untrusted program executing in the virtual directory, the method, comprising:
- when the untrusted program issues a file inquiry, returning a true indication if:
- the file exists in the virtual directory;
- or
- the file exists in a real directory and no indication that a previous virtualized delete operation has been performed is found.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.