IP Library Granted Patent US 8,812,832
Granted Patent B2
US 8,812,832 · App. 13/030,693 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Method and system of using a non-native operating system for scanning and modifying system configuration data of a native operating system

Inventors: Pedram Amini (Austin, TX); Rohit Dhamankar (Austin, TX); David S. Endler (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Avast Software A.S.
G06F9/44505G06F9/4401G06F21/564G06F2221/2153
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,812,832
App. No.
13/030,693
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Modifying system configuration data. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including changing operation of a program on a computer system that comprises a native operating system stored on a long term storage device. In some cases, the changing by: reading system configuration data of the native operating system, the reading by a scan program executed under a non-native operating system booted on the computer system; identifying, by the scan program, the program on the long term storage device; and modifying, by the scan program, the system configuration data of the native operating system such that the change in operating of the program is implemented on a subsequent boot of the computer system under the native operating system.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

changing operation of a program on a computer system that comprises a native operating system on a long term storage device, the changing by:

copying a custom bootloader to the long term storage device;

loading the custom bootloader;

loading a non-native operating system by the custom bootloader;

reading system configuration data of the native operating system, the reading by a scan program executed under the non-native operating system booted on the computer system;

identifying, by the scan program, the program on the computer system; and

modifying, by the scan program, the system configuration data of the native operating system such that the change in operation of the program is implemented on a subsequent boot of the computer system under the native operating system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising wherein modifying the system configuration data further comprises changing data regarding the program in the system configuration data.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising deleting the program from the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the system configuration data further comprises modifying the system configuration data such that the program is not automatically started as part of booting the native operating system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the system configuration data further comprises modifying the system configuration data such that the program is not automatically started after booting the native operating system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the system configuration data further comprises deleting the program from the computer system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein changing operation further comprises upgrading the program to a newer version.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein changing operation further comprises installing a patch for the program.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein changing operation further comprises uninstalling the program from the computer system.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable media that stores a program that, when executed by a processor of a computer system, causes the processor to:

copy a custom bootloader to a long term storage device;

load the custom bootloader;

load a non-native operating system by the custom bootloader;

read system configuration data of a native operating system of the computer system, the read during periods of time in which the computer system is operating under the non-native operating system; and

modify the system configuration data of the native operating system such that a change in operation of a target program is implemented on a subsequent boot of the computer system under the native operating system, the modification during periods of time in which the computer system is operated under the non-native operating system, and the target program configured to operate under the native operating system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to change data regarding the target program in the system configuration data.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 wherein the program further causes the processor to delete the target program from the computer system.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to modify the system configuration data such that the program is not automatically started as part of booting the native operating system.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to modify the system configuration data such that the program is not automatically started after booting the native operating system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to delete the target program.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to upgrade the target program to a newer version.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to install a patch for the target program.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to uninstall the target program.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable media that stores a program that, when executed by a processor of a computer system, causes the processor to:

copy a custom bootloader to a long term storage device;

load the custom bootloader;

load a non-native operating system by the custom bootloader;

read system configuration data of a native operating system of the computer system, the read during periods of time in which the computer system is operating under the non-native operating system; and

modify the system configuration data of the native operating system such that a malware program is disabled on a subsequent boot of the computer system under the native operating system, the modification during periods of time in which the computer system is operated under the non-native operating system, and the malware program configured to operate under the native operating system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to change data regarding the malware program in the system configuration data.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to modify the system configuration data such that the malware program is not automatically started as part of booting the native operating system.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to modify the system configuration data such that the malware program is not automatically started after booting the native operating system.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to delete the malware program from the computer system.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 wherein when the processor modifies the system configuration data, the program further causes the processor to uninstall the malware program from the computer system.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: GEN DIGITAL AMERICAS S.R.O.
To: GEN DIGITAL INC.
Reel/Frame 071771/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: AVAST SOFTWARE S.R.O.
To: GEN DIGITAL AMERICAS S.R.O.
Reel/Frame 071777/0341 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE INTERNATIONAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVAST SOFTWARE, S.R.O.
Reel/Frame 055726/0399 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: AVAST SOFTWARE S.R.O.
To: CREDIT SUISSE INTERNATIONAL, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 041084/0961 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2016
From: AVAST SOFTWARE A.S.
To: AVAST SOFTWARE S.R.O.
Reel/Frame 040493/0059 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2013
From: COMBINED IQ, LLC
To: AVAST SOFTWARE A.S.
Reel/Frame 031328/0226 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2011
From: AMINI, PEDRAM; DHAMANKAR, ROHIT; ENDLER, DAVID S.
To: COMBINED IQ, LLC
Reel/Frame 025838/0782 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120216028A1 · Aug 23, 2012