Detecting a phishing entity in a virtual universe
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, Clifford A. Pickover, Keith R. Walker
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Abstract
An invention for detecting a phishing virtual entity in a virtual universe is disclosed. A virtual entity may be registered as authentic and be identified with multiple physical characteristics thereof. Another virtual entity will be monitored to detect whether it includes a physical characteristic that is sufficiently similar to that of a registered virtual entity to cause confusion. A phishing virtual entity is detected based on the monitoring and phishing prevention processes may be implemented on the phishing virtual entity.
Claims25
A method for detecting a phishing virtual entity in a virtual universe, comprising:
- identifying a first virtual entity using characteristics of multiple physical aspects of the first virtual entity wherein the first virtual entity represents a store within a virtual universe;
- detecting a characteristic of at least one of the multiple physical aspects of a second virtual entity;
- and
- comparing the characteristic of the second virtual entity with the characteristic of the first virtual entity of a same physical aspect to determine whether one of the first virtual entity or the second virtual entity is a phishing virtual entity that lures visitors into providing personal information.
A system for detecting a phishing virtual entity in a virtual universe, comprising:
- a computer configured to perform the method comprising:
- identifying a first virtual entity using characteristics of multiple physical aspects of the first virtual entity wherein the first virtual entity represents a store within a virtual universe;
- detecting a characteristic of at least one of the multiple physical aspects of a second virtual entity;
- and
- comparing the characteristic of the second virtual entity with the characteristic of the first virtual entity of a same physical aspect to determine whether one of the first virtual entity or the second virtual entity is a phishing virtual entity that lures visitors into providing personal information.
A computer program product for detecting a phishing virtual entity in a virtual universe, comprising:
- computer usable program code embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, which when executed by a computer system enables the computer system to:
- identify a first virtual entity using characteristics of multiple physical aspects of the first virtual entity wherein the first virtual entity represents a store within a virtual universe;
- detect a characteristic of at least one of the multiple physical aspects of a second virtual entity;
- and
- compare the characteristic of the second virtual entity with the characteristic of the first virtual entity of a same physical aspect to determine whether one of the first virtual entity or the second virtual entity is a phishing virtual entity that lures visitors into providing personal information.
A method for providing a system for detecting a phishing virtual entity in a virtual universe, comprising:
- at least one of:
- creating, maintaining, deploying or supporting a computer infrastructure being operable to:
- identify a first virtual entity using characteristics of multiple physical aspects of the first virtual entity wherein the first virtual entity represents a store within a virtual universe;
- detect a characteristic of at least one of the multiple physical aspects of a second virtual entity;
- and
- compare the characteristic of the second virtual entity with the characteristic of the first virtual entity of a same physical aspect to determine whether one of the first virtual entity or the second virtual entity is a phishing virtual entity that lures visitors into providing personal information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.