IP Library Granted Patent US 9,077,671
Granted Patent B2
US 9,077,671 · App. 13/967,210 · Granted Jul 7, 2015

Real-time network updates for malicious content

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,077,671
App. No.
13/967,210
Granted
Jul 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A global response network collects, analyzes, and distributes “cross-vector” threat-related information between security systems to allow for an intelligent, collaborative, and comprehensive real-time response.

Claims (32)

1. A method for establishing the reputation of message components, the method comprising:

receiving a first update of aggregated reputation information of one or more constituent components from a data center by a security appliance;

receiving an electronic message by the security appliance;

disassembling the electronic message into the one or more constituent components at a by the security appliance;

identifying a reputation for each of the one or more constituent components by the security appliance, wherein at least one of the reputations identified is a bad reputation and corresponds to a vector that identifies one or more ports through which the electronic message might breach a network perimeter, information received over a first port includes a reference to information accessed over a second port, and the information accessed over the second port is associated with the vector that corresponds to the one or more constituent components with the at least one bad reputation;

transmitting the data regarding the identified reputation for each of the one or more constituent components from the security appliance to the data center, wherein the data center receives data regarding the one or more constituent components from a plurality of other security appliances and tabulates a second update to the aggregated reputation information of the one or more constituent components in part by vetting the identified reputation data against the data received from the plurality of other security appliances; and

receiving the second update to the aggregated reputation information from the data center by the security appliance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reputation for each of the one or more constituent components are identified using the aggregated reputation information received from the data center.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reputation for each of the one or more constituent components are identified using at least one of an IP address, a URL, a file attachment, or an embedded image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identified reputation data are vetted against the data received from the plurality of other security appliances using votes from the security apparatus against votes from the plurality of other security apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein updates to the aggregated reputation information are received periodically by the security appliance from the data center.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the security appliance transmits the identified reputation information periodically to the data center.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data center polls the security appliance for the identified reputation information.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the security appliance transmits the identified reputation information as a real time feed to the data center.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the security appliance is a computing device operated by an end user.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of periodic updates to the aggregated reputation information received includes information provided by a network administrator.

11. A non-transitory computer storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for establishing the reputation of message components, the method comprising:

receiving a first update of aggregated reputation information of one or more constituent components from a data center by a security appliance;

receiving an electronic message by the security appliance;

disassembling the electronic message into the one or more constituent components by the security appliance;

identifying a reputation for each of the one or more constituent components by the security appliance, wherein at least one of the reputations identified is a bad reputation and corresponds to a vector that identifies one or more ports through which the electronic message might breach a network perimeter, information received over a first port includes a reference to information accessed over a second port, and the information accessed over the second port is associated with the vector that corresponds to the one or more constituent components with the at least one bad reputation;

transmitting the data regarding the identified reputation for each of the one or more constituent components from the security appliance to the data center, wherein the data center receives data regarding the one or more constituent components from a plurality of other security appliances, and tabulates a second update to the aggregated reputation information of the one or more constituent components in part by vetting the identified reputation data against the data received from the plurality of other security appliances; and

receiving the second update to the aggregated reputation information from the data center by the security appliance.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the reputation for each of the one or more constituent components are identified using the aggregated reputation information received from the data center.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the reputation for each of the one or more constituent components are identified using at least one of an IP address, a URL, a file attachment, or an embedded image.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the identified reputation data are vetted against the data received from the plurality of other security appliances using votes from the security apparatus against votes from the plurality of other security apparatus.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein updates to the aggregated reputation information are received periodically by the security appliance from the data center.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the security appliance transmits the identified reputation information periodically to the data center.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the data center polls the security appliance for the identified reputation information.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the security appliance transmits the identified reputation information as a real time feed to the data center.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the security appliance is a computing device operated by an end user.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of periodic updates to the aggregated reputation information received includes information provided by a network administrator.

Assignments (28)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 2, 2018
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 045818/0566 →
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 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 041073 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT.. Recorded Apr 5, 2017
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 042168/0114 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 23, 2017
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: SONICWALL US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041073/0001 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032810 FRAME 0206 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0204 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040039/0642 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST OF REEL 032809 FRAME 0930 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040045/0255 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032809 FRAME 0887 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040017/0314 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSGINEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035716 FRAME: 0209. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ENTITY CONVERSION. Recorded Jun 11, 2015
From: SONICWALL, INC.
To: SONICWALL L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 035888/0228 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME AND THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035662 FRAME: 0571. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 11, 2015
From: SONICWALL L.L.C.
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 035890/0307 →
CONVERSION AND NAME CHANGE Recorded May 18, 2015
From: SONICWALL, INC.
To: SONICWALL LLC
Reel/Frame 035716/0209 →
MERGER Recorded May 18, 2015
From: SONICWALL LLC
To: DELL SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035662/0571 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032809/0887 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032809/0930 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032810/0206 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 19, 2013
From: SONICWALL, INC.
To: PSM MERGER SUB (DELAWARE), INC. C/O THOMA BRAVO, LLC
Reel/Frame 031244/0333 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 19, 2013
From: PSM MERGER SUB (DELAWARE), INC.
To: SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 031244/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2013
From: YANOVSKY, BORIS; EIKENBERRY, SCOTT D.; RACHAM, BHUVAN; BILOGORSKIY, NICK; BHIMARAJU, GAYATRI
To: SONICWALL, INC.
Reel/Frame 031244/0297 →