IP Library Granted Patent US 8,156,541
Granted Patent B1
US 8,156,541 · App. 11/874,084 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

System, method, and computer program product for identifying unwanted activity utilizing a honeypot device accessible via VLAN trunking

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,156,541
App. No.
11/874,084
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying unwanted activity utilizing a honeypot accessible via virtual local area network (VLAN) trunking. In use, a honeypot device is allowed to be accessed via VLAN trunking. Furthermore, unwanted data is identified, utilizing the honeypot device.

Claims (27)

1. A method, comprising:

identifying unwanted activity, utilizing a honeypot device configured for associating a time to live (TTL) of one, which is provided within particular packets, with the unwanted activity, wherein the particular packets are dropped as a result of having the TTL of one;

identifying a source device and a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the unwanted activity; and

isolating the source device from future network communications, wherein frames communicated from the source device to the honeypot device over the VLAN, which couples the honeypot to the source device, are tagged, and wherein subsequent frames communicated to and from the source device are dropped as a result of the source device being associated with the unwanted activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the honeypot device includes a server.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the honeypot device is included in a local area network.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the honeypot device is unprotected by a security system with respect to activity within the local area network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the honeypot device emulates a system vulnerable to the unwanted activity.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual local area network trunking allows the honeypot device to be accessed by a plurality of other devices located across multiple virtual local area networks.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the multiple virtual local area networks are included in a local area network on which the honeypot is located.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual local area network trunking is facilitated utilizing at least one virtual local area network capable switch.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual local area network trunking includes applying a tag to a frame communicated to the honeypot device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the unwanted activity includes malware.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the unwanted activity utilizing the honeypot device includes automatically identifying activity associated with the honeypot device as unwanted activity.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the unwanted activity utilizing the honeypot device includes comparing activity associated with the honeypot device with known unwanted activity.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising logging accesses made to the honeypot device.

14. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing operations, comprising:

identifying unwanted activity, utilizing a honeypot device configured for associating a time to live (TTL) of one, which is provided within particular packets, with the unwanted activity, wherein the particular packets are dropped as a result of having the TTL of one;

identifying a source device and a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the unwanted activity; and

isolating the source device from future network communications, wherein frames communicated from the source device to the honeypot device over the VLAN, which couples the honeypot to the source device, are tagged, and wherein subsequent frames communicated to and from the source device are dropped as a result of the source device being associated with the unwanted activity.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the system is configured for:

identifying unwanted activity, utilizing a honeypot device configured for associating a time to live (TTL) of one, which is provided within particular packets, with the unwanted activity, wherein the particular packets are dropped as a result of having the TTL of one;

identifying a source device and a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the unwanted activity; and

isolating the source device from future network communications, wherein frames communicated from the source device to the honeypot device over the VLAN, which couples the honeypot to the source device, are tagged, and wherein subsequent frames communicated to and from the source device are dropped as a result of the source device being associated with the unwanted activity.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the memory is coupled to the processor via a bus.

Assignments (10)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE PATENT TITLES AND REMOVE DUPLICATES IN THE SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059354 FRAME: 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060792/0307 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2022
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059354/0335 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045056/0676 Recorded Mar 2, 2022
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 059354/0213 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL - REEL/FRAME 045055/0786 Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 054238/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045056 FRAME 0676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 054206/0593 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE PATENT 6336186 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 045055 FRAME 786. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Oct 22, 2020
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055854/0047 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 045056/0676 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2018
From: MCAFEE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045055/0786 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Aug 24, 2017
From: MCAFEE, INC.
To: MCAFEE, LLC
Reel/Frame 043665/0918 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2007
From: THOMAS, VINOO; JYOTI, NITIN
To: MCAFEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 019988/0417 →