System and method for enhancing network security

A system of routing information comprising:

• a network of nodes including a first node;
• a first router in communication with a second router, a third router, and the first node;
• the first router comprising a processor, instructions executable by the processor, and a memory storing preferred routing information, the preferred routing information including first routing information for transmitting data to the first node;
• the second router comprising a memory storing second routing information for transmitting data to the first node;
• the instructions comprising:
• receiving, at the first router, the second routing information,
• transmitting a sample data packet to the first node via the second routing information,
• determining whether the sample data packet was received at the first node,
• storing, as the preferred routing information, the second routing information if the sample packet was received at the first node, and
• automatically rejecting the second routing information if the sample packet was not received at the first node.

A controller communicable with a router for use in routing information through a network, the controller comprising:

• a processor;
• instructions executable by the processor;
• and
• a memory storing routes which are known to be valid or invalid;
• the instructions comprising:
• receiving routing information stored in a database of the router;
• comparing the routing information with the routes known to be valid or invalid;
• deleting the routing information from the first database of the router if the routing information matches routing information known to be invalid;
• if the routing information does not match routing information known to be valid or invalid, determining whether packets transmitted via the routing information will reach an intended destination;
• and
• transmitting to the router data indicating that the routing information is valid if it is determined that packets transmitted via the routing information will reach the intended destination.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium executable on a computing device and storing a program to perform a method of transmitting data through a network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a first node of the network and from a second node of the network, first suggested routing information to a destination node, where the first suggested routing information defines at least one node through which data will be transmitted to the destination node;
• sending a sample packet to the destination node via the first suggested route;
• determining, with a processor associated with the first node, whether the sample packet was received at the destination node;
• receiving, at the first node of the network, data from a node of the network, where the data is intended to be sent to the destination node;
• sending the data to the destination via the first suggested route depending on the determination of whether the sample packet was received at the destination;
• and
• automatically rejecting the first suggested routing information if the sample packet was not received at the destination.