Computer virus screening methods and systems

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a model of a second computer, a status update communication from the second computer, the status update communication including pre-existing information on the second computer;

updating and maintaining the model based on the status update communication, to reflect any changes to the second computer;

receiving computer data from a first computer at the model of the second computer, the model having been maintained and updated prior to receiving the computer data;

screening the computer data for at least one virus using the model to produce a screening result; and

communicating the screening result from the model to the second computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an IP network for the transmission of the computer data and the screening result.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the at least one virus is detected, performing at least one of the following:

(i) inhibiting communication of at least a portion of the computer data to the second computer;

(ii) removing the at least one virus from the computer data prior to transferring the computer data to the second computer;

(iii) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the second computer;

(iv) communicating a message indicating that the at least one virus was detected to the first computer; and

(v) writing data to a database indicating that the at least one virus was detected.

4. A virus screening system operative to be connected to a network and operative to screen computer data for at least one virus when the computer data is transmitted between a first computer and a second computer, the virus screening device comprising:

a third computer on the network that comprises a model of a second one of the first and the second computers, the model configured to be maintained and updated prior to receiving the computer data, based on pre-existing information on the second computer, to reflect any changes to the second one of the first and second computers and to screen the computer data from a first one of the first and second computers,

wherein a result of the screening is communicated from the model to the second one of the first and second computers.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the network comprises an IP network.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the network comprises a local area network, wherein the model resides outside the local area network.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer data comprises an electronic mail message.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer data comprises data requested by the second computer from the first computer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the model resides within

a wide area network, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving across a local area network a request for requested data from the first computer;

sending the request across the wide area network to the second computer; and

requesting that the requested data be returned via the model.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request for the computer data from the first computer at a modem external to the first computer; and

initiating communication of the computer data from the modem across an IP network to the second computer.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the model resides within a wide area network, and wherein the method further comprises:

configuring the model to inhibit communication of executables to the first computer; and

configuring an electronic mail system associated with the first computer to route messages addressed to the first computer through the model.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first computer is communicatively coupled to a local area network and the model resides outside a firewall associated with the local area network, and wherein the method further comprises:

configuring the model to inhibit communication of executables to the first computer; and

configuring an electronic mail system associated with the first computer to route messages addressed to the first computer through the model.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screening result comprises a version of the computer data.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using a reduced data version, simplified version, or modified version of the received computer data as the version of the computer data.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a new installation program as the version of the received computer data.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a handshake data packet as the version of the received computer data.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the screening comprises screening a portion of the computer data less than all of the computer data for the at least one virus.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling the screening when the computer data is voice data.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching between allowing and disallowing the screening based on enabling and disabling signals within the computer data.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintaining and updating of the model comprises determining parameters of the second computer, wherein the parameters comprise a version of an operating system, a hardware type, registry information, configuration information, or information from initialization files.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maintaining and updating of the model comprises one or more of: requesting information from the second computer, obtaining information from the model if the information was created or altered by using the model to produce a screening result, and requesting information from a pre-existing image of the second computer.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the pre-existing image of the second computer mimics a state of the second computer by maintaining a copy of settings and data stored to the second computer.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving, screening, and communicating of the computer data are performed unidirectionally or bidirectionally between the first and second computers.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first computer, the network, or the second computer is subscribed to a service providing the screening.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the model determines from the screening result what is transmitted to the second computer.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second computer determines from the screening result what is transmitted to the second computer.

27. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor by a method comprising:

receiving computer data from a first computer at a model of a second computer;

maintaining and updating the model prior to receiving the computer data, based on pre-existing information on the second computer, to reflect any changes to the second computer;

screening the computer data for at least one virus using the model and producing a screening result; and

communicating the screening result from the model to the second computer.

28. A system for transmitting computer data between a first computer and a second computer via a network, comprising:

means for receiving the computer data from a first computer, the means for receiving being configured as a model of a second computer and being configured to be maintained and updated prior to receiving the computer data, based on pre-existing information on the second computer, for any changes to the second computer;

means for screening the computer data for at least one virus;

means for producing a screening result therefrom; and

means for communicating the screening result to the second computer.

29. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to:

receive computer data from a first computer at a model of a second computer;

maintain and update the model prior to receiving the computer data, based on pre-existing information on the second computer, to reflect any changes to the second computer;

screen the computer data for at least one virus using the model and producing a screening result; and

communicate the screening result from the model to the second computer.

30. A method, comprising:

causing an intermediary node to receive computer data from a first computer, the intermediary node being a model of a second computer;

causing the intermediary node to be maintained and updated prior to receiving the computer data, based on pre-existing information on the second computer, to reflect any changes to the second computer;

causing the intermediary node to screen the computer data for at least one virus using the model and producing a screening result; and

causing the intermediary node to communicate the screening result from to the second computer.

31. A method comprising:

receiving, at a model of a destination computer, a status update communication from the destination computer, the status update communication including pre-existing information on the destination computer;

maintaining the model of the destination computer prior to receiving data destined for the destination computer, based on the status update communication;

analyzing data destined for the destination computer to determine whether the data includes a virus; and

providing a screening result to the destination computer.