Method and apparatus for notifying a recipient of a threat within previously communicated data

An apparatus for alerting recipients as to a previously-communicated threat, comprising:

• a data storage comprising information associated with a plurality of threats;
• an examiner for comparing network activity information with information regarding the plurality of threats to identify a threat previously communicated from a first computer to a second computer based on the information associated with the plurality of threats, wherein the network activity information is associated with data communicated between the first computer and the second computer, and wherein the examiner accesses and examines a plurality of messages communicated between the first computer and the second computer to determine a message communicated to the second computer that comprises the threat, wherein the message that comprises the threat is recalled upon determining that the message has not been opened, where in the plurality of messages comprises emails, instant messages, or a combination thereof;
• and
• an alert module for notifying, via an electronic notification, the second computer as to the previous communication of the threat, wherein the electronic notification comprises at least one of an email, an instant message, and an electronic text message.

A system for alerting a recipient as to a previously-communicated threat, comprising:

• a first computer;
• a second computer for exchanging data with the first computer, comprising security software for performing a security scan;
• and
• a server for monitoring the data exchanged between the first computer and the second computer, comprising:
• a data storage comprising information associated with a plurality of threats;
• an examiner for processing the data exchanged between the first computer and the at least one second computer to identify the threat previously communicated to the second computer based on the information associated with the plurality of threats information for determining a threat, wherein the examiner accesses and examines a plurality of messages communicated between the first computer and the second computer to determine a message communicated to the second computer that comprises the threat, wherein the message that comprises the threat is recalled upon determining that the message has not been opened, where in the plurality of messages comprises emails, instant messages, or a combination thereof;
• and
• an alert module for notifying, via an electronic notification, the second computer as to the previous communication of the threat, wherein the electronic notification comprises at least one of an email, an instant message, and an electronic text message.