IP Library Granted Patent US 7,451,487
Granted Patent B2
US 7,451,487 · App. 10/678,965 · Granted Nov 11, 2008

Fraudulent message detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,451,487
App. No.
10/678,965
Granted
Nov 11, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique for classifying a message is disclosed. In some embodiments, the technique comprises extracting a plurality of reference points, classifying the plurality of reference points, and detecting that the message is a phish message based on the classified reference points. In some embodiments, the technique comprises identifying a plurality of fraud indicators in the message, applying a statistical analysis on the plurality of fraud indicators; and determining whether the message is a fraudulent message based on the analysis.

Claims (23)

1. A method for classifying a message, comprising:

extracting a plurality of reference points from a body of the message, each reference point being information used to contact a referenced entity;

classifying each of the plurality of reference points based on a source associated with each reference point;

determining whether the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source based on the classified reference points; and

processing the message based on the determination of whether the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the plurality of reference points includes looking up the plurality of reference points in a database.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source includes determining that the message includes divergent reference points.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source includes determining that the plurality of reference points includes a first reference point to a first source and a second reference point to a second source.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source includes determining that the plurality of reference points includes a first reference point to a legitimate source and a second reference point to a questionable search.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source includes determining that the plurality of reference points includes a first reference point to a first source and a second reference point to a second source, and the second reference point is intended to appear as a reference to the first source.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising computing a thumbprint of the message and storing the thumbprint to a database.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising computing a thumbprint of the message and storing the thumbprint to a database; wherein the database is shared.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a plurality of fraud indicators and applying a statistical analysis on the plurality of fraud indicators.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising quarantining the message.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting the message.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an alert to a recipient of the message.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an alert to a recipient indicating that the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an explanation of the fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source to a recipient.

15. A computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a processor to perform a method for classifying a message, the method comprising:

extracting a plurality of reference points from a body of the message;

classifying the plurality of reference points;

determining whether the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source based on the classified reference points; and

processing the message based on the determination of whether the message is a fraudulent message appearing to be from a legitimate source.

Assignments (27)
FIRST LIEN IP SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071777/0641 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RF 046321/0393 Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 071625/0887 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL USA L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046321/0393 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046321/0414 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2015
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 037317/0150 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 11, 2015
From: SONICWALL L.L.C.
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 037269/0810 →
CONVERSION AND NAME CHANGE Recorded Dec 11, 2015
From: SONICWALL, INC.
To: SONICWALL L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 037270/0038 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 014875 FRAME 0521. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNOR BRYAN KIM SHOULD READ "BRYAN KIM" NOT "BRIAN KIM". Recorded Dec 23, 2013
From: OLIVER, JONATHAN; EIKENBERRY, SCOTT D.; BUDMAN, GLEB; KIM, BRYAN
To: MAILFRONTIER, INC.
Reel/Frame 031868/0664 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED ON REEL/FRAME 024776/0337 Recorded May 8, 2012
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 028177/0115 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED ON REEL/FRAME 024823/0280 Recorded May 8, 2012
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 028177/0126 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 3, 2010
From: AVENTAIL LLC; SONICWALL, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 024776/0337 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Aug 3, 2010
From: AVENTAIL LLC; SONICWALL, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 024823/0280 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 28, 2010
From: PSM MERGER SUB (DELAWARE), INC.
To: SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024755/0091 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 28, 2010
From: SONICWALL, INC.
To: PSM MERGER SUB (DELAWARE), INC.
Reel/Frame 024755/0083 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2007
From: MAILFRONTIER, INC.
To: SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 019500/0065 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2004
From: OLIVER, JONATHAN; EIKENBERRY, SCOTT D.; BUDMAN, GLEB; KIM, BRIAN
To: MAILFRONTIER, INC.
Reel/Frame 014875/0521 →