System and method for triggering and performing scans to protect virtual environments

A system for dynamically expanding computing resources in a networked computing environment, comprising:

• a memory medium comprising instructions;
• a bus coupled to the memory medium;
• and
• a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to:
• detecting that an avatar with a virtual item is entering or leaving a teleport action in a virtual universe;
• in response to the detecting, scanning, using a geometry scanner, the virtual item;
• determining if the scanned virtual item has a geometry that differs from a normal virtual item, and if so:
• triggering an item alert and blocking the scanned virtual item,
• checking attributes of the scanned virtual item against attributes of known malicious virtual items, and
• updating an inventory item safety summary accordingly.

A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium for operating in a system comprising at least one computer system having a network adapter for accessing a network, a processing unit, and a memory, for implementing a method for triggering scans of items in a virtual universe, the virtual universe having at least one avatar owned by a resident, at least one avatar having an item and an item inventory, the method comprising:

• detecting that an avatar with the virtual item is entering or leaving a teleport action;
• in response to the detecting, scanning, using a geometry scanner, the virtual item;
• determining if the scanned virtual item has a geometry that differs from a normal virtual item, and if so:
• triggering an item alert and blocking the scanned virtual item,
• checking attributes of the scanned virtual item against attributes of known malicious virtual items, and
• updating an inventory item safety summary accordingly.