IP Library Granted Patent US 9,712,545
Granted Patent B2
US 9,712,545 · App. 14/582,009 · Granted Jul 18, 2017

Detection of a malicious peripheral

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,712,545
App. No.
14/582,009
Granted
Jul 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can be configured to determine when a peripheral is connected to the electronic device, determine a peripheral identification for the peripheral, and monitor the data going to and from the peripheral. Based on the monitored data, a type for the peripheral can be determine. The peripheral identification can be compared with the determined type for the peripheral and if they do not match, then communication to and from the peripheral can be blocked.

Claims (89)

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

determine that a peripheral is connected to an electronic device;

determine a peripheral identification for the peripheral;

determine whether the peripheral identification matches an entry in a blacklist;

monitor data from the peripheral;

determine a type for the peripheral based on the monitored data;

determine whether the peripheral identification matches the determined type for the peripheral; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification does not match the determined type for the peripheral.

2. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising one or more instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the processor to:

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification matches an entry in the blacklist.

3. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising one or more instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the processor to:

determine that a second peripheral is connected to the electronic device;

determine a second type for the second peripheral; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral matches the determined second type for the second peripheral.

4. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 3 , further comprising one or more instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the processor to:

allow the communication based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral is data storage and the determined second type for the second peripheral is also data storage.

5. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising one or more instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the processor to:

determine whether the peripheral performs two or more functions;

determine the type of the two or more functions; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the two or more functions are not related.

6. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral is connected to the electronic device using a hardwire connection.

7. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral is connected to the electronic device using a wireless connection.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a hardware processor

configured to:

determine that a peripheral is connected to an electronic device;

determine a peripheral identification for the peripheral;

determine whether the peripheral identification matches an entry in a blacklist;

monitor data from the peripheral;

determine a type for the peripheral based on the monitored data;

determine whether the peripheral identification matches the determined type for the peripheral; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification does not match the determined type for the peripheral.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification matches an entry in the blacklist.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

determine that a second peripheral is connected to the electronic device;

determine a second type for the second peripheral; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral matches the determined second type for the second peripheral.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

allow the communication based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral is data storage and the determined second type for the second peripheral is also data storage.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

determine whether the peripheral performs two or more functions;

determine the type of the two or more functions; and

block communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the two or more functions are not related.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral is connected to the electronic device using a hardwire connection.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the peripheral is connected to the electronic device using a wireless connection.

15. A method comprising:

determining that a peripheral is connected to an electronic device;

determining a peripheral identification for the peripheral;

determining whether the peripheral identification matches an entry in a blacklist;

monitoring data from the peripheral;

determining a type for the peripheral based on the monitored data;

determining whether the peripheral identification matches the determined type for the peripheral; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification does not match the determined type for the peripheral.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification matches an entry in the blacklist.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that a second peripheral is connected to the electronic device;

determining a second type for the second peripheral; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral matches the determined second type for the second peripheral.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

allowing the communication based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral is data storage and the determined second type for the second peripheral is also data storage.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining whether the peripheral performs two or more functions;

determining the type of the two or more functions; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the two or more functions are not related.

20. A system for detection of a malicious peripheral, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a hardware processor

configured for:

determining that a peripheral is connected to an electronic device;

determining a peripheral identification for the peripheral;

determining whether the peripheral identification matches an entry in a blacklist;

monitoring data from the peripheral;

determining a type for the peripheral based on the monitored data;

determining whether the peripheral identification matches the determined type for the peripheral; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification does not match the determined type for the peripheral.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured for:

determining whether the peripheral performs two or more functions;

determining the type of the two or more functions; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the two or more functions are not related.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured for:

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the peripheral identification matches an entry in the blacklist.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured for:

determining that a second peripheral is connected to the electronic device;

determining a second type for the second peripheral; and

blocking communication to and from the peripheral based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral matches the determined second type for the second peripheral.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured for:

allowing the communication based on a determination that the determined type for the peripheral is data storage and the determined second type for the second peripheral is also data storage.

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 Jun 8, 2015
From: EDWARDS, JONATHAN L.; COCHIN, CEDRIC; KAPOOR, ADITYA
To: MCAFEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0228 →